Adagio (Violoncello Concerto, Op. 85)

This fine transcription comes from the "Violoncello Concerto, Op. 85" of Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934). I need not go into detail about Elgar's career, but as a sort of "hero" of mine, I've been disturbed and disappointed to recently learn of many "not very good" things about him. I can comment, so I won't...

Rather, I'll take about the transcription, which was published by Novello in 1938, and is now included in their "Book 1 - Elgar Organ Album," published in 1977.

The transcription was done by Dom Gregory Murray, OSB (1905-1992), who had a long and very distinguished career as an organist and composer.

His influence through such simple music as "A People's Mass", his psalm tones, organ music and hymn tunes reached far, although he had more or less withdrawn from public life half a century ago. He was
educated at Westminster Cathedral Choir School when Sir Richard Terry was Master of the Music, and St Benedict's, Ealing. He was ordained in 1932 for Downside Abbey and spent most of the rest of his life there.

In 1923 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and read for the historical tripos at Cambridge, graduating in 1929. He was a brilliant organist, regular broadcasts from the Compton organ at Downside Abbey, and was particularly noted for his skill at improvising.

He was an authority on Gregorian Chant, publishing two books on the subject, and two of his hymn tunes were published in the widely esteemed Hymns Ancient & Modern (New Standard).

This transcription is a miniature work of art, and the Violoncello and Violoncello Celeste with tremulant of the Solo organ, coupled to the ALMOST imperceptible Salicional 8' with tremulant of the Choir, really work well as the "solo" instrument.