Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Most people will have heard of...

253 replies

jeffhasgoodhair · 28/05/2023 19:20

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?

OP posts:
billycat321 · 28/05/2023 21:46

I live in the village in Gloucestershire where composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was born. We get many visitors who then visit the birthplace of Gustav Holst in Cheltenham and then finish off their 'pilgrimage ' by visiting the birthplace of Elgar. There are still people around who appreciate our musical heritage, and had a decent musical education.

SockQueen · 28/05/2023 21:47

I have - and I've been to his birthplace! We went on a Y5 residential to the Malverns, 1994ish, and visited that house as part of it.

I then did a fair bit of classical music at school, and played the cello, so I have played several of his pieces. His cello concerto is one of the most beautiful pieces in the world, IMO. I was never quite good enough to play it to a performing standard.

Gymrabbit · 28/05/2023 21:55

Unfortunately I don’t think it’s surprising that lots of people haven’t heard of him.
unfortunately many British people seem to revel in their ignorance.
Having said that, despite knowing and liking many of his works, I wouldn’t have any interest in going to see his home.

LookItsMeAgain · 28/05/2023 22:04

Royalbloo · 28/05/2023 19:28

The composer? If yes then only because my Nan had Four Seasons at her funeral

I'm not trying to be funny or rude either but Vivaldi wrote the Four Seasons. Did Elgar do a version of them too?
I thought Elgar wrote Variations.

ICalledYouLastNightFromGlasgow · 28/05/2023 22:05

LizzieSiddal · 28/05/2023 20:02

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.

But we can tell from your name you're educated in the arts.

Nimrod is the most beautiful music and I want it at my funeral.

Lilbunnyfufu · 28/05/2023 22:06

Never heard of him (38)

LookItsMeAgain · 28/05/2023 22:07

BrunchMonster · 28/05/2023 19:59

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.

This.

I'm genuinely stunned at how many people on this thread haven't heard of him.

Even on the Last night of the Proms?

LookItsMeAgain · 28/05/2023 22:09

CupcakeTowers · 28/05/2023 19:59

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.

I'm Irish, in Ireland and I've heard of him. I've also heard of Beethoven, Strauss, Bach, Liszt, Mozart and many other composers. Without them, we really wouldn't have the current music (imo)

laloue · 28/05/2023 22:09

Worcester girl, “meet you under Elgar” (the statue) was my entire teenage life , he taught at my school and yet …never been to his birthplace, music amazing , where he was born not really a draw.

PuppyMonkey · 28/05/2023 22:14

I grew up in a council estate in Nottingham. I know he wrote Land of Hope and Glory ( I think ) and is very famous but I have never thought to investigate him further. I’m 56.

There are probably lots of people on here who don’t know who Robert De Niro or Daniel Day Lewis or Cate Blanchet are. Or Jean Alexander or Margaret Rutherford. People have different interests, it doesn’t mean they’re twats.

JudgeJ · 28/05/2023 22:15

frockhopper · 28/05/2023 19:47

Never heard the name, sorry. I’m 34, from Yorkshire.

Those who have never heard of himwould probably recognise the Pomp and Circumstance March, tune of Land of Hope and Glory.

laloue · 28/05/2023 22:16

@jeffhasgoodhair my school had an Elgar house …blue swimming hats🤣

LolaSmiles · 28/05/2023 22:17

I'd have thought knowing who Elgar is would be general knowledge for a reasonable number of people, but wouldn't see how that translates to visiting his birthplace.

I'd happily go to see his works performed but have no interest in visiting his place of birth.

DramaAlpaca · 28/05/2023 22:24

I'm aware of Elgar, I'm familiar with his music. I wouldn't necessarily be interested enough to visit a NT property associated with him, though.

senua · 28/05/2023 22:28

I know who Edward Elgar is.
I have even been to his birthplace. It's a nice little house but it's not your usual NT stately pile with gardens and estate, and it is in a rather out-of-the-way location so it's not surprising that it doesn't get loads of visitors.
However, if they can keep Lennon and McCartney's (even smaller) childhood homes then they can keep EE's, too!

Clevs · 28/05/2023 22:31

@jeffhasgoodhair

Strangely not, they were named after local rivers/landmarks- Severn, Teme, Malvern and one other that I can't remember (maybe Wyre?).

Clevs · 28/05/2023 22:34

Myfavouritepenguin · 28/05/2023 21:13

Everyone in Worcester has heard of him. “Meet you by the Elgar statue” is a very standard phrase here…

And he usually ends up with a traffic cone on his head every New Year's Eve 😂

RockyOfTheRovers · 28/05/2023 22:37

I’ve heard of him. Random bit of Elgar trivia: he was a Wolves fan and wrote what’s thought to be the first football chant in 1898.

senua · 28/05/2023 22:37

Clevs · 28/05/2023 22:31

@jeffhasgoodhair

Strangely not, they were named after local rivers/landmarks- Severn, Teme, Malvern and one other that I can't remember (maybe Wyre?).

Would it be Wye, rather than Wyre?

KTheGrey · 28/05/2023 22:38

Land of Hope and Glory is why I know him.

Clevs · 28/05/2023 22:40

@senua

Maybe, I really can't remember.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 28/05/2023 22:41

Fully aware of who he was, and am familiar with his music, but am not in the slightest bit interested in visiting where he lived, or following an ‘Elgar Route’ whatever that is!

FunnysInLaJardin · 28/05/2023 22:45

I know who Elgar is, but not sure how many younger people would know.

I grew up in a very musical family though

LumpySpaceGoddess · 28/05/2023 22:48

JudgeJ · 28/05/2023 22:15

Those who have never heard of himwould probably recognise the Pomp and Circumstance March, tune of Land of Hope and Glory.

Show quote history

I googled the land of hope and glory, I only recognise one small section of it but it’s definitely not something I’ve heard much of before and I wouldn’t automatically know what it is.

Lifeinlists · 28/05/2023 22:50

Clarinet1 · 28/05/2023 19:33

Well, as a classically-trained musician, I certainly know about Elgar! However, I do think that there is a certain acceptance of a moderately educated person not knowing about classical music in a way there wouldn’t be of them not knowing about Shakespeare or Jane Austen or some other great Britons or the past; For instance I’m not much of a scientist but I’ve heard of Alan Turing, Rosalind Franklin, Joseph Lister, Crick and Watson….

I think you've nailed it there. Also it's an indictment of our education system along with a general race to the bottom where culture and the arts are concerned. Serious music is often seen as an oddity in this country but it's disappointing if people have never heard of one of our greatest composers.

Swipe left for the next trending thread