[7/9 古典 英國] Edward Elgar 愛德華·艾爾加爵士：英國的宏偉與憂鬱之聲 (Nagoya Hill Batam 2025.7.8)

 

The Voice of English Grandeur and Melancholy

愛德華·艾爾加爵士（Sir Edward Elgar，1857-1934）是傑出的英國作曲家，被廣泛認為是19世紀末20世紀初英國古典音樂界最重要的作曲家之一。他出生於一個中產階級的羅馬天主教家庭，父親是一位鋼琴調音師和音樂商店老闆，這讓艾爾加從小就接觸音樂。儘管他接受的正規訓練很少，但他基本上是自學成才，透過聆聽、演奏和大量閱讀樂譜，對作曲、對位和配器法有了深刻的理解。

艾爾加的早期職業生涯進展緩慢，多年來他一直從事教學、在當地管弦樂隊演奏小提琴以及創作較小的作品和改編曲。1889年，他與卡羅琳·愛麗絲·羅伯茨（Caroline Alice Roberts）結婚，這成為他人生的一個轉捩點。愛麗絲不斷地鼓勵和支持他，認可他的才華，並幫助他管理事業。

1899年，他的**《謎語變奏曲》**首演，獲得了廣泛讚譽，確立了他的聲譽。20世紀的第一個十年是他創作最豐富的時期，創作了一些最崇高、最有表現力的音樂。艾爾加的作品通常融合了抒情的旋律、豐富的和聲以及強烈的英國田園風情，儘管他的音樂影響主要來自歐洲大陸。他於1904年被授予爵士封號，並於1924年被任命為「御前音樂大師」（Master of the King's Musick），鞏固了他作為國寶的地位。

艾爾加的性格很複雜；他在以新教為主的英國，對自己的出身卑微和羅馬天主教信仰很敏感。儘管他在公眾面前取得了成功，但他常常覺得自己像個局外人。然而，他的音樂表達了深刻的情感，從宏偉勝利到內省憂鬱，應有盡有。1920年妻子去世後，他的創作產量顯著減少，儘管他一直致力於一些未完成的項目，直到1934年去世。

以下是艾爾加十首經常被提及的音樂作品：

1. 《謎語變奏曲》作品36：這部管弦樂作品可以說是艾爾加最著名的作品，是原創主題的14個變奏，每個變奏都是他一位朋友或同事（包括他自己和他的妻子）的音樂肖像。其中第九變奏「尼姆羅德」（Nimrod）特別有名，並經常獨立演奏。

2. 《威風凜凜進行曲》作品39：一組五首（第六首未完成）軍事進行曲。其中第一首D大調的進行曲包含了標誌性的旋律「希望與榮耀的土地」（Land of Hope and Glory），這已成為英國非官方的國歌，也是世界各地畢業典禮上的主要曲目。

3. 《E小調大提琴協奏曲》作品85：這部協奏曲創作於第一次世界大戰之後，以其深沉的悲傷、內省的品質和優美的旋律而聞名。

4. 《B小調小提琴協奏曲》作品61：一部重要的小提琴與管弦樂作品，被認為是他最優秀的協奏曲之一，以其抒情的美感和戲劇性的廣度而聞名。

5. 《吉倫蒂厄斯之夢》作品38：一部戲劇性的清唱劇，改編自紅衣主教約翰·亨利·紐曼的詩歌，描繪了靈魂在死後的旅程。它被廣泛認為是他最偉大的合唱成就。

6. 《降A大調第一號交響曲》作品55：於1908年首演，這部交響曲立即獲得成功，並因其宏偉和情感深度而受到讚揚。

7. 《降E大調第二號交響曲》作品63：在第一部交響曲的幾年後創作，這是一部更為複雜且通常更為憂鬱的作品，獻給愛德華七世國王的紀念。

8. 《E小調弦樂小夜曲》作品20：一部早期作品，展示了他為弦樂器創作的精湛技藝，因其抒情和親密的特點而深受喜愛。

9. 《弦樂序奏與快板》作品47：一部為弦樂四重奏和弦樂隊創作的傑作，以其充滿活力的能量和豐富的對位法而聞名。

10. 《愛的禮讚》作品12：一首迷人且廣受歡迎的短篇作品，最初為小提琴和鋼琴而作，後來改編為各種其他樂器和管弦樂隊。他將其作為送給未來妻子愛麗絲的愛的禮物。

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was a pre-eminent English composer, widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in British classical music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a middle-class Roman Catholic family, his father was a piano tuner and music shop owner, which provided Elgar with early exposure to music. Despite having very little formal training, he was largely self-taught, acquiring a profound understanding of composition, counterpoint, and orchestration through listening, performing, and extensive reading of scores.

Elgar's early career was a slow burn, marked by years of teaching, playing the violin in local orchestras, and composing smaller works and arrangements. It was his marriage to Caroline Alice Roberts in 1889 that proved to be a turning point. Alice was a constant source of encouragement and support, recognizing his genius and helping to manage his career.

His breakthrough came in 1899 with the premiere of his Enigma Variations, which garnered widespread acclaim and established his reputation. This period, the first decade of the 20th century, was his most prolific, producing some of his most noble and expressive music. Elgar's compositions often possess a distinct blend of lyrical melody, rich harmonies, and a powerful sense of English pastoralism, even though his musical influences were largely continental European. He was knighted in 1904 and appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924, cementing his status as a national treasure.

Elgar's personality was complex; he was sensitive about his humble origins and his Roman Catholicism in a predominantly Protestant Britain. Despite his public success, he often felt like an outsider. His music, however, speaks of deep emotion, ranging from grand and triumphant to introspective and melancholic. After his wife's death in 1920, his creative output significantly diminished, though he continued to work on some unfinished projects until his passing in 1934.

Here are 10 often-mentioned musical works by Edward Elgar:

Enigma Variations, Op. 36: This orchestral work is arguably his most famous, a series of 14 variations on an original theme, each a musical portrait of a friend or colleague (including himself and his wife). The ninth variation, "Nimrod," is particularly well-known and often performed independently.

Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39: A set of five (with a sixth incomplete) military marches. The first, in D major, contains the iconic tune known as "Land of Hope and Glory," which has become an unofficial national anthem for Britain and is a staple at graduation ceremonies worldwide.

Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: Composed in the aftermath of World War I, this concerto is known for its profound sadness, introspective quality, and beautiful melodies.

Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61: A significant work for violin and orchestra, considered one of his finest concertos, known for its lyrical beauty and dramatic scope.

The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: A dramatic oratorio based on a poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman, depicting the journey of a soul after death. It is widely considered his greatest choral achievement.

Symphony No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 55: Premiered in 1908, this symphony was an immediate success and is lauded for its grandeur and emotional depth.

Symphony No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 63: Composed a few years after his first symphony, it's a more complex and often brooding work, dedicated to the memory of King Edward VII.

Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20: An early work showcasing his mastery of writing for string instruments, beloved for its lyrical and intimate character.

Introduction and Allegro for Strings, Op. 47: A masterful work for string quartet and string orchestra, known for its vibrant energy and rich counterpoint.

Salut d'Amour, Op. 12: A charming and popular short piece originally written for violin and piano, later arranged for various other instruments and orchestra. He composed it as a love token for his future wife, Alice.

https://youtu.be/h2fv4BbrNhU?si=WYjVdzcSgU5NBYIN

7/9 古典 Elgar- Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85- III. Adagio (英國 Edward Elgar)