Sir Edward Elgar, one of England's most celebrated composers, was born in Broadheath, England, June 2, 1857. Although he began a career studying law, his heart was in music. He finally abandoned his law studies for his first love, having memorized scores of favorite symphonies and operas. During this time, he played the violin and organ at various performances and became concertmaster of the local orchestra.

In 1889, he married Caroline Roberts, who became his inseparable companion and encouraged him to apply his creativity to larger works of music. One of these more significant works was the popular Pomp and Circumstance, a set of five marches. He adapted the first march to become the ode for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It became God Save the King, commonly used in Britain. As England's most esteemed composer, Elgar was knighted in 1904 and received a baronetcy, the highest honor, in 1921.

Although Edgar was largely self taught in composition, he is recognized for adding new life to choral composition in England at that time. In addition to several choral works, he composed two symphonies, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, and various hymns and anthems. The composition generally called his masterpiece is the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius, written in 1900 and based on a poem by John Cardinal Newman. He is also well known for his orchestral piece, The Enigma Variations, written in 1899. Elgar's wife died in 1920. In 1929, he discontinued any serious musical work and died in 1934.

• The World of Twentieth Century Music; Ewen, David; 1970, Prentice-Hall

• Composers since 1900; Ewen, David; 1969, H.W. Wilson Co.
• Classical Music Pages on the Internet