Most people will have heard of...

[jeffhasgoodhair]

Edward Elgar.

DH on a long speakerphone conversation with his parents now talking about the potential closing of Elgar's Birthplace by the National Trust due to lack of footfall.

They think the problem is that no one 'these days' knows who he is.

Could I be biased as I live where he lived therefore know people who have lived in one of his properties, have been in venues he frequented, know roads named after him and see statues everywhere... therefore I think he's more significant than he is?

His cello concerto is beautiful. If you haven’t heard it, then listen to it.

i’m an early 40 something from the Black country BTW, if that helps your research.

The absolute number one recording of it.
No one else touches her for raw emotion, such a wonderful performance!
I’m disappointed when I listen to other recordings, and miss the random coughs 😂

I've heard of him but I'm pretty musical and like some of his works.

Having said that, I still wouldn't be taking myself to his place of birth for a visit.

I have, but I was brought up a few miles from his birthplace.

I knew there was a composer called Elgar but I’d have had to phone a friend on his first name. I am a NT member but tbh I’m only really interested in the gardens ( and parking on The Jurassic coast) so I’d go if there was a nice garden and cafe.

I know exactly who he is, and ok admittedly I’m a classical music fan but I’m absolutely appalled how many people have “never heard of him” It’s almost like those people who gaily declare they’ve never read a book.

I think most will probably be familiar with some of the music even if they don't know who it's by. There's an impressive list of soundtracks he's been included on.

Also he had a magnificent moustache! 😂

Yes I would have thought he was a rather well known classical composer. I'm in my 30s.

Did your school have an Elgar House?

For what it's worth, I'm in the US (and not in a musical field) and I know the name and a little bit of context. "Pomp and Circumstance" (aka "the graduation march") is traditionally used here for the processional part of school graduations and degree ceremonies at all levels - I believe the music is the same as "Land of Hope and Glory". I played the trombone in my school band and we performed this many times - we did learn that it was by Elgar and some information about him - I remember that he died in 1934 and that he was from Worcestershire, but not much else! "Enigma Variations" is well known here too. I'd have guessed him to be one of the most well-known English composers - definitely one of the first I'd name.

Ive heard of him and walked out of church to his music when I got married.

Dear God.

And yes I know exactly who Elgar is. I can't believe that people haven't heard of probably the greatest English composer.

I can't imagine I have a single family member or friend who doesn't know about Elgar. It's a bit like saying you've never heard of Charles Dickens.

The Nimrod variation is one that often comes up here on threads by people trying to describe a piece that they've heard and liked, but don't know what it is.

Heard of him via normal primary state school in Essex during the 90s. Like and would recognise enigma variations. Dislike but know the words to pomp and circumstance

The name only rings a bell because there's a Baby Shark Classics episode about him 😆. However it's not quite fair to sneer about "most people" not knowing who Elgar is because it's very British piece of information. Outside the UK, no schools teach about Elgar including very prestigious private/international ones. There might be a tiny mention in passing but nothing that students are required to remember and be tested on.

I can imagine being shocked about someone never having heard about Mozart or Beethoven, but Elgar is pretty geographically and culturally specific. And of course, chances are that more people recognise the music than know his name which is the case with most forms of famous art.

Isn't he on the back of the £20 note?

I remember this because it's mentioned in a scene from the TV comedy Peep Show...

My musical knowledge is only moderate and I haven’t lived in Britain all that long. I have admired a few of Elgar’s works since I was a teenager, long before I lived here. I didn’t know his first name, however.

I learned about him in music lessons at school but I'm not particularly good at remembering names for music so I couldn't confidently pick a particular piece. I suspect he's not been on the curriculum for a while, as this was 45 -to 30 years ago

I'm shocked that people don't know who he is. But I don't necessarily plan to visit his birth place

It’s shocking that people don’t know who he is. And a sad indictment of our education system. I only know because I like to listen to Classic FM. Didn’t know about him from school at all.

He lived in my village for a while and used to play the church organ which is some special time. I think in this area there's so much named after him we are more aware

My introduction to Elgar and the landscape of his birthplace was Penda's Fen.

We had him at our wedding too.
The music is so moving.

I was in Tesco earlier and a women in her mid 50s was staring at the shelves and asking her friend what an iceberg lettuce looked like. Her friend pointed out she was looking at the cabbages.

I wonder if she knows who Elgar is 🤔