Polonia (Elgar)

Polonia is a symphonic prelude by the English composer Edward Elgar written in 1915 as his Op. 76.

History

It was first performed at the Polish Victims' Relief Fund Concert in the Queen's Hall, London on July 6th 1915, with the orchestra conducted by the composer. The Relief Fund was a world-wide effort, organised by Ignacy Paderewski and Henryk Sienkiewicz, in aid of refugees from the terrible conflict in Poland between the forces of Russia and Germany. On April 13th 1915 the Polish conductor Emil Młynarski asked Elgar to compose something, thinking of how Elgar's Carillon had been a recent tribute to Belgium, but using Polish national music. Elgar also included quotations from Chopin and Paderewski.

Elgar dedicated "Polonia" to "To Ignacy Paderewski", already a distiguished pianist and composer, and later Prime Minister of Poland.

Themes

Elgar used Polish patriotic songs, a theme by Chopin and the Polish National Anthem, integrating with them a theme of his own, said to be the motive of his admiration for the Polish people.

The first theme that Elgar uses is heard, after an introductory flourish, played by the bassoons. It is a quote from the "Warszawianka", which has the words "Śmiało podnieśmy sztandar nasz w górę" ("Bravely let us raise our flag"). This is immediately followed by a "Nobilmente" theme (Elgar's own), broadly stated then dying away to lead to the second national theme which is the dignified "Chorał" or "Z dymem pożarów" ("With the smoke of fires"), first played simply by the cellos (with a cor anglais) and a harp, later by the woodwind with a violin countermelody, before being played by the full orchestra. The "Warszawianka" theme is then developed, leading into a brief return of Elgar's theme, before a quotation from Paderewski's "Fantasie Polonaise" [ [http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=225908 Classics on Line] Recording of Paderewski's "Fantasie Polonaise"] appears, signalled by the ring of a triangle. The magical section following quotes from Chopin's Nocturne in G minor, played by a solo violin, during which the Paderewski theme is heard, and is quietly interrupted by the "Warszawianka". There is further development which leads to a triumphant return of the "Chorale", which sounds like a conclusion to the work, but no: the "Chorale" dies away, there is a simple statement of the Polish National Anthem "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" ("Poland Is Not Yet Lost"), and it is this Anthem which brings the work to a brilliantly orchestrated conclusion. For the final bars, the instruments of the orchestra are joined by the organ.

Elgar and Paderewski

At the Polish concert on July 6th 1915 there were elaborately engraved programmes, each tied with a red and white ribbon, containing messages from Paderewski. Elgar conducted his première and Thomas Beecham conducted the remainder of the concert.

On August 29th 1915, Elgar wrote to Paderewski asking for permission for the quotation from his "Fantasie Polonaise" to be published:

Paderewski received the work with genuine admiration. He wrote to Elgar after hearing the work for a second time in October:

Recordings

*1975 "Elgar Orchestral Music", London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, includes "Polonia". EMI Records, ASD 3050 stereo.

* [http://www.elgarfoundation.org/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_CD0286&url=http://www.elgarfoundation.org/trolleyed/2/13/index.htm Elgar Collector's Edition] Modern edition of the same recording - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult.

* [http://www.elgarfoundation.org/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_CD0494&url=http://www.elgarfoundation.org/trolleyed/2/13/index.htm Elgar War Music] Rutland Sinfonia, Barry Collett.

* [http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=388143 British Symphonic Collection Vol 2: Elgar] Munich Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Bostock.

* [http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=549834 Elgar: Marches] New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd.

References

* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/polish_music/news/aug99.html#back3 Polish Music Reference Center Newsletter August 1999, Vol. 5, no. 8] "A Polish Overture by a British Composer: "Polonia", Op. 76 by Edward Elgar" by Joseph Herter
*Kennedy, Michael, "Portrait of Elgar" (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0193154145

*Moore, Jerrold N. “Edward Elgar: a creative life” (Oxford University Press, 1984) ISBN 0193154471 pages 682-683

*cite book | last=Porte | first=J. F. | title=Sir Edward Elgar | location=London | publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Turner & Co. Ltd. | year=1921 | pages 165-168

Notes