Elgar, Edward (William)

English composer. Although his celebrated oratorio The Dream of Gerontius (1900), based on the written work by the theologian John Henry Newman, was initially unpopular in Britain, its good reception in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1902 led to a surge of interest in his earlier works, including the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (1901). His Enigma Variations (1899) brought him lasting fame.

Among his works are oratorios, two symphonies, a violin concerto, chamber music, songs, the symphonic poem Falstaff (1902–13), and the moving Cello Concerto of 1919. After this piece, Elgar did not publish any more important music. He concentrated on transcriptions and made some early gramophone recordings of his own work.