Elegy No. 2 (In memory of Frederick Septimus Kelly)

Charles Harford Lloyd (Thornbury, 16 October 1849 – Slough, 16 October 1919) was well-known in his time, but now largely forgotten.

When S. S. Wesley died in 1876, the position at Gloucester was immediately offered to Lloyd. Though he was an unknown at the time, he soon earned a reputation as an outstanding musician, remaining until 1881. While there he became the Honorary Secretary of an organisation called Cathedral Organists of England and Wales.

In 1882, he moved to Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, remaining there until 1891. While in Oxford he took his degree of Doctor of Music in 1890. From 1887 to 1892, Lloyd was an instructor in organ and composition at the Royal College of Music.

Lloyd was invited to fill the position of music teacher at Eton College from 1892, when Sir Joseph Barnby resigned. He was Instructor of Music, and played the organ in the Eton College Chapel every morning and afternoon, as well as on Sundays, and rehearsed the choir. He also gave frequent organ recitals on Sunday evenings.

After retirement from Eton in 1914, Lloyd was appointed organist at the Chapel Royal, St. James Palace from 1914, a post he held until his sudden death on his birthday in 1919.

"Elegy No. 2" was published by Novello in 1917. It is dedicated: "In memory of Frederick Septimus Kelly" (Please see the First Comment below.)

This is really a glorious solemn march, interrupted by sheer magic in the central section, where Lloyd introduces "The Eton Boating Song," so fitting since Kelly was a gold medal winning rower at the 1908 Olympics. The effect is overwhelming with both nostalgia and heartache in every phrase. The opening material returns, leading to the coda which features the boating song again, but in a way that brings everything to final rest.

The score is attached below, as well as photos of Lloyd, Kelly, Gloucester, Christ Church, Oxford, the Chapel Royal, and rowers at Eton.

Please read the detailed information in the First and Second Comments.