Overture in d minor (Handel, arr. Elgar)

• Elgar arranged this in 1923, from Handel’s Chandos Anthem no. 2.¹
• This is one of several arrangements of historical music for full romantic orchestra which Elgar made late in life. He made similar arrangements of works by Bach and Chopin. ²
• Elgar’s friend W.H. Reed on Elgar’s love for Handel:

“…he would speak of Handel with tears in his eyes… would rub his hands gleefully and look up to heaven at the thought of Handel’s genius.”

Elgar’s friend W.H. Reed³

1. Diana McVeagh, “Elgar, Sir Edward,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed September 18, 2019,  https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000008709.
2. Ibid.
3. “Elgar – His Music: Other Music for Small Orchestra,” Elgar Society, accessed September 24, 2019, http://www.elgar.org/3smalls.htm.