BBC Symphony Orchestra (leader, Paul Beard ) : conductor, Sir Adrian Boult
Written early in 1910 as a loyal tribute to King Edward VII , Elgar's Second Symphony was afterwards dedicated to his memory. It is prefaced by the first two lines of Shelley's poem : ' Rarely, rarely, comest thou. Spirit of Delight ', and though Elgar's music has no intention of following the whole poem closely, it is no doubt born of the idea set forth in these two lines. The first movement is built up on groups of themes, rather than on single tunes, and the impetuous opening suggests the Spirit of Delight itself.
The slow movement begins with some suggestion of a solemn march, and parses to other principal themes in the same dignified mood. The third movement takes the place of the 'usual Scherzo, and although th-re is a broad melody in a more serious vein at one point, it is for the most part vivacity which prevails. The last movement, too, begins happily, and again passes to a noble and massive melody played on the full orchestra.