Elgar, Edward. (1857 - 1934)
"King Olaf" - Autograph Musical Quotation
The composer has penned two measures marked as "King Olaf / Sheffield 1899" and has signed below "Edward Elgar." The page is inscribed below by the conductor August Manns, who adds the quotation "Wo man singt, da lass dich nieder, denn böse Menschen kennen keine Lieder" ["Where there's singing, you can settle down. Bad people don't sing songs"] and writes "In rememberance of the Sheffield Festival 1899" above his signature. Approx. 14 x 19 cm, in fine condition.King Olaf, Elgar's Opus 30 is a cantata for soprano, tenor and bass soloists, full choir and orchestra, based on the epic poem by H W Longfellow, arranged by H A Ackworth. It was first performed under the baton of the composer on 30 October, 1896. It contains some of Elgar's most engaging melodies and is regarded by many as his best pre-Enigma composition, foreshadowing the great oratorios that were to follow. Elgar conducted a successful performance of the work at the 1899 Sheffield Festival on October the 6th, on which occasion the present quoation was penned. See Jerold Northrop Moore's "Edward Elgar: A Creative Life," p. 292-293.
The German-born conductor August Manns (1825 - 1907) was director of music at London's Crystal Palace where he increased the resident band to full symphonic strength and over more than forty years conducted more than 12,000 concerts there. He was a hugely important figure in developing Elgar's reputation. (9627)
AMQS Classical Music