Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Severn Suite, Op.87 for brass band (1930)

The Severn Suite was written towards the end of Sir Edward Elgar’s life in 1930. Other works from this period include the Nursery Suite, and the Pomp & Circumstance March No.5. Except for the unfinished opera The Spanish Lady, it was to be the composer’s last major work. It is also the only composition by Elgar to have been written specifically for brass band.

The work was commissioned by Herbert Whitely as a test piece for the 1930 National Brass Band Championship at Crystal Palace. According to Elgar’s daughter Carice, most of the material was taken from the composer’s old sketchbooks. The composer only produced a piano score for the work, and it was scored for brass by Henry Geehl. Michael Kennedy notes that at the time this collaboration was a well-kept secret; there was some debate over the quality of the scoring and certainly some argument between Geehl and Elgar as to what was technically possible and musically effective for a brass band. However, two years later Elgar orchestrated the suite for a standard orchestra and finally in 1933 Ivor Atkins arranged the piece for organ as the Organ Sonata No.2.

The work was dedicated to George Bernard Shaw who is quoted as saying that ‘it will ensure my immortality when all my plays are damned and forgotten...’

The winning performance was by Foden’s Motor Works conducted by Fred Mortimer.

The Severn Suite is written in four short movements and a Coda.  In the orchestral reworking, each of the movements was given a ‘picturesque’ title evoking some aspect of Worcester. They can be helpful signposts when listening to this work in the other versions.  The work opens with an imposing introduction, ‘Worcester Castle’. This is written to represent a procession passing in a pageant. Elgar uses a few solo instruments to give variety, but typically this a four-square piece for full ensemble in full ceremonial style.   The second movement, 'Tournament’ follows without a break and is effectively a brilliant Toccata that showcases soloists. Next, the mood changes for a musical depiction of the Cathedral, which is conceived as a Fugue.  However, Basil Maine has suggested that the opening of this movement is like ‘the River [Severn] itself rather than... the cathedral which stands on its bank, so gentle is its flowing.’ It is surely one of Elgar’ finest, if unjustly neglected ‘slow movements.’

The fourth movement is entitled ‘Commandery’. This is effectively a minuet which may recall the King’s presence at Worcester during the Civil War. From the players’ point of view this is a tricky piece that demands a lightness of touch

The Coda, which opens rather darkly reprises material from the opening movement. Soon the weight of brass is added to bring the work to an impressive conclusion.

Edward Elgar’s Severn Suite can be heard on YouTube performed by The Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band.

With thanks to the English Music Festival, where this programme note was first published. I have made a few minor editorial changes.