ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer.

A.L.S., Edward Elgar, two pages, 4to, Hereford, 30th July 1908, to [Alfred H.] Littleton. Elgar thanks his correspondent for their letter commenting on one received from a Mr. Foote of Tunbridge Wells and continues 'I do not remember writing to him, probably his letter to me was acknowledged. I return his letter (no longer present) & shall be much obliged if you will let him know that I will not go'. He further remarks 'I do not like the tone of his letter & it is all nonsense for him to talk of educating the south. I send some letters (also no longer present) I have received from Tunbridge Wells & you will see they have done Gerontius and the Kingdom. I do not know anything of the society but it looks as if Mr. Foote wanted to take the wind out of the other people's sails - But I do not know. I only guess & may be wrong. Anyhow it seems clear that things are not so stagnant as Mr. Foote seems to want me to think'. In a hastily written postscript Elgar adds that he will write concerning a symphony very soon. Some very light, minor age wear and creasing to the edges, and with a few very minor repairs to a few tears, not affecting the text or signature. About VGAlfred H. Littleton (1845-1914) Chairman of the music publishers Novello & Co.Elgar refers to Francis J. Foote, conductor, composer and leader of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society. A separate organisation, the Tunbridge Wells Vocal Association, founded in 1870, also existed in the affluent Kent town which naturally gave rise to a certain amount of rivalry. In 1907 Foote made the mistake of announcing that he would begin rehearsing Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. However, the Vocal Association beat him to it and staged a performance of the work on 19th March 1907, followed by a performance of The Kingdom on 30th March 1908, both of which Elgar refers to in the present letter. On each occasion Elgar sent the Association a 'best wishes' telegram as it was the first time these two works had been performed in the area. In fact Foote never did succeed in performing any of Elgar's works in Tunbridge Wells.Many of Elgar's works have entered the British and international concert repertoire and among his best known works are orchestral compositions including the Enigma Variations (Op.36 1898-99) and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (Op.39, 1901-30). He also composed concertos for violin and cello, two symphonies as well as choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius (Op.38, 1900).