EDWARD

ELGAR
LIFE AND WORK
LIFE
Born on 2nd June 1857 at Broadheath near Worcester.
His father William Elgar was a professional violinist, piano tuner in
Worcester and had his own music shop with musical instruments.
He taught Edward to play on the piano, violin and organ but
Edward was largely self-taught.
His mother Ann Elgar was a daughter of a farm worker.
Edward was the fourth of their seven children. He was baptised
and brought up as a Roman Catholic against his fathers will.
In 1889 he married one of his pupils Caroline Alice Roberts, a
daughter of Major-General Sir Henry Gee Roberts. Her family was
against their marriage and they thought that she is marring
beneath herself.
Alice was a huge support for Elgar
Elgars
Birthplace
Elgars
Parents
HIS WORK
Enigma Variations is Elgars best-known large-scale
composition.
The story behind Enigma Variations : One day he sat at the
piano and started playing a random tune. His wife Alice heard it
and really liked it. Elgar started playing around with the tune
and he was trying to create musical caricatures of their friends.