Abstract The English partsong originated in the early nineteenth century with the increasing demand for amateur choral activities. Later on, through the promotion of ¡§Renaissance¡¨ in the romantic period, the English partsongs continued to develop to maturity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Elgar is an important English partsong composer. His early English partsongs, from 1890 to 1900, display a great partnership between text and music. The literature he chose shows his sophisticated and witty mind. The music is very close to the text in character. Elgar uses flowing lyric melodies, chromatic harmonic color, varied musical treatment in different sections of the poetry, and great rhythm to illustrate the text. This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction. The second chapter includes four parts. Part one describes the background of ¡§Renaissance¡¨ of the late nineteenth century in England. Part two is the chronological discussion of three music styles of English partsongs. Part three introduces the background and major works of Elgar. Part four expounds on three styles of Elgar¡¦s partsongs according to his composing skill. The third chapter analyzes four pieces of Elgar¡¦s early partsongs. The fourth chapter presents proposals for the interpretation of the early partsongs of Elgar, which focus on tone quality, tempo and rhythm, dynamics and texture, and conducting gesture. The fifth chapter draws conclusions from the study.

Thesis (M.M.)--University of Rochester, 1944. / Typewritten. Bibliography: p. [64-65]. Digitized version available online via the Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music http://hdl.handle.net/1802/2081

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Elgar is the greatest modern composer in Britain after Purcell. Though he never received formal musical education and training, through self-learning and composing ceaselessly, finally he gained both domestic and international approval for his works. In addition, he is a model of self-made composer. Elgar¡¦s works include oratorios, choruses, symphonies, concertos, orchestral music and chamber music. One who never received any academic musical education, Elgar however successfully created an indigenous English style of music through his own learning, exploration, and innovation. Among the main characteristics of his works are their noble temperament and romantic sentiment filled with nostalgia and retrospection. The Cello Concerto, op. 85 is the most well-known work of Elgar¡¦s later productions, one indispensable piece for the Cello concert repertoire. This study is mainly devoted to exploring the background and techniques of this most outstanding work in Elgar¡¦s later life. Besides, it will be analyzing the relationship between solo cello and the orchestra movement by movement. Lastly, it will be exploring Elgar¡¦s frequently-used technical expressions and the ways to perform and interpret this work.

Diss.--Freiburg (Brisgau), 2000. / Bibliogr. p. 323-335.

Thesis (D. Mus. Arts)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 254-263).

It is the object of this paper to review Sir Edward Elgar's life as a composer, and to discuss and study the thematic elements of his oratorio, "The Apostles." To understand and evaluate the significance of any person's rise to fame in his own field, it is necessary to reconstruct the surroundings from which he came. If a study of the musical conditions had been made when Elgar's development as a composer was starting to draw attention, it would have been noted that the British public was prepared to listen to music in newer forms only if it was from a country other than England. There was very little done or said to encourage any music in a modern character if it was composed by someone from England.

Treatise (D. of Musical Arts)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-110). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.