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Relayed from the People's Palace
Walter Widdop (Tenor)
The National Symphony Orchestra
Leader, S. Kneale Kelley
Conducted by THE Composer

Orchestra
Overture, 'Froissart'

The Overture, named after the great fourteenth-century chronicler, has as motto the words of Keats:-
'When Chivalry
Lifted up her lance on high.'
The theme of chivalry as the basis for a work came into the Composer's mind through the scene in Scott's 'Old Mortality' in which Claverhouse tells of his enthusiasm for Froissart, who 'with true chivalrous feeling... confines his beautiful expressions of sorrow to the death of the gallant and high-bred Knight; of whom it was a pity to see the fall, such was his loyalty to his king, pure faith to his religion, hardihood towards his enemy, and fidelity to his lady-love.'

Introduction and Allegro for Solo String Quartet and String Orchestra. Op. 47

Elgar, in this work, uses, with beautiful effect, the contrasts between a String Orchestra and a Quartet of Solo Strings-two Violins, Viola and 'Cello.
The Introduction hints at the various tunes with which the whole work is to be built. Towards its close the Welsh (or Welsh-like) time is gently played by the solo Viola. Agitation follows and quickly leads us into the impassioned Allegro.

8.25 Walter Widdop and Orchestra
Scena from 'King Olaf'

8.32 Orchestra
First 'Wand of Youth' Suite Tone Poem 'Polonia'
AS a boy of twelve, Elgar wrote some music for a children's play. In 1907 he revived this and arranged it in two Suites for full orchestra. The First of these contains: (1) Overture; (2) Serenade; (3) Minuet; (4) Sun Dance; (5) Fairy Pipers; (6) Fairies and Giants.

'Polonia' was written during the first year of the war, as a tribute to Poland and with a dedication to Paderewski. It was first played at a concert at the Queen's Hall in aid of the Polish Victims' Relief Fund.
Most of the tunes used are Polish melodies, but an obvious exception is the typically Elgarian tune near the opening - majestic and noble (and marked in the score with Elgar's favourite term of expression, nobilimente). There are also references to Chopin's Nocturne in G Minor and to Paderewski's Polish Fantasia.

Contributors

Leader:
S. Kneale Kelley
Unknown:
Walter Widdop

(Continued)
ORCHESTRA
Overture, ' In the South'
Contrasts— The Gavotte, 1700-1900
IN THE SOUTH-ALASSIO is a musical record of impressions of Italy — more especially of ' a glorious afternoon in the Vale of Andora,' with snow-tipped mountains on the horizon, and the blue Mediterranean, and with thoughts of the strife and power of the old Roman civilization, suggested by the ruins at hand.
The tunes out of which In the South is constructed are all Elgar's own. One of them in the middle, a tune of pastoral feeling, has been spoken of as an Italian folk-time, but the Composer states that this is an error.
The Overture was first heard at the Covent Garden Elgar Festival of 1904.

2LO London and 5XX Daventry

Appears in

About this data

This data is drawn from the Radio Times magazine between 1923 and 2009. It shows what was scheduled to be broadcast, meaning it was subject to change and may not be accurate. More