Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO, was born on June 2, 1857, in Broadheath, Worcestershire, England, and passed away on February 23, 1934, in Worcester, Worcestershire. An English composer, Elgar is renowned for his contributions to the orchestral idiom of late 19th-century Romanticism, marked by bold melodies, striking color effects, and a mastery of large forms. His father, William Henry Elgar, was an organist and music dealer, which influenced Elgar's early musical environment. Elgar left school at the age of 15 and briefly worked in a lawyer’s office. He was a skilled violinist, played the bassoon, and served as a bandmaster and church organist, despite having no formal training in composition.

Elgar initially struggled to gain recognition, but his Enigma Variations (1899) brought him fame as a leading composer. The work features variations based on a countermelody to an unheard theme, which Elgar claimed was a well-known tune he would not identify. This piece, along with The Dream of Gerontius (1900), an oratorio based on a poem by John Henry Cardinal Newman, established his reputation. The latter work was initially poorly received in Britain but gained acclaim in Germany, subsequently winning favor in his home country.

Elgar's Roman Catholic faith influenced his compositions, and he planned a trilogy of religious oratorios, completing The Apostles (1903) and The Kingdom (1906). His other notable works include the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. Elgar was knighted in 1904 and appointed Master of the King's Musick in 1924. He is also credited as the first composer to take the gramophone seriously, conducting a series of recordings between 1914 and 1925. Despite a period of diminished popularity after his death, Elgar's music experienced a revival in the 1960s, particularly in Britain, where it continues to be celebrated.