Musical Memories in Three Movements by Pamela White, the first winner of the Elgar in Hereford Music Award First movement - Misteriouso (mysteriously).
AS a child growing up in the radio age, I remember listening to Children's Hour every afternoon. I loved everything about it, from Uncle Mac's soothing voice to plays about adventurous children and nature notes.
There was also the part about classical music and space for Young Artistes' where musical children could play and sing.
So, my first memory of Elgar's music is of a haunting piece from The Wand of Youth suite, Dream Children, which was used as a signature tune for a children's serial on Children's Hour. I would be humming it for days afterwards and was even seen to be dancing to it.
l Second movement - Scherzoso (playfully).
There is a delightful element of playfulness in the wonderful Enigma Variations, which was my next striking encounter with Elgar's music, which happened at The Proms.
I heard the performance with an innocent ear but was so captivated by it that I had to find out the whole story of the "friends pictured within".
And what a story it is - all Elgar's feelings about his friends are so beautifully and sensitively realised. It is even more miraculous when one thinks of Elgar studying alone, with many self doubts, to become the electrifying orchestrator we know.
l Third movement - Nobilmente con anima (nobly with feeling).
When I moved to Hereford I became even more aware of Elgar's music and singing in my first Three Choirs performance of The Dream of Gerontius conducted by Dr Roy Massey, was at once challenging - only two rehearsals because everyone else seemed to know it, and sublimely moving.
Now, in contributing to a small part of the 150th birthday celebrations, I am privileged to be able to conduct my own choir, The Britten Singers, in Elgar part songs and in a special performance of a part song not heard in Herefordshire before.
This piece, So Many True Princesses, was written by Elgar, to words by Masefield in 1932 for the unveiling of a statue in memory of Queen Alexandra.
To me, Elgar's music encapsulates the triumph of the brilliant, but always lonely, outsider with all his passionate and intense emotions being poured into his music.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article