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Article: Putting together a new Elgar enigma; After Elgar's Third Symphony, his unfinished Piano Concerto is the latest musical might-have-been to be placed in the spotlight. Terry Grimley reports.
- Article from:
- The Birmingham Post (England)
- Article date:
- August 31, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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We are backstage at Symphony Hall and a swell of rich orchestral sound suddenly sweeps from the monitor speakers. The music is unfamiliar but the composer is unmistakable.
"It sounds like Elgar, doesn't it?" says Robert Walker, approvingly. "It isn't, though."
What we are hearing is a work by Walker himself. Called Fragments of Elgar, it is a 38-minute piano concerto based on the sketches Elgar made for his own, unrealised concerto.
The piece, which was given its world premiere at Dartington two years ago, was performed at the Three Choirs Festival ...