Elegy for Brahms facts for kids

The Royal College of Music, where the Elegy was first performed.

Elegy for Brahms is a short piece of music for an orchestra. It was written by a famous composer named Hubert Parry in 1897. An "elegy" is a piece of music or a poem that expresses sadness, often for someone who has passed away. This elegy was a tribute to another great composer, Johannes Brahms.

What is the Elegy for Brahms?

This musical work is written in the key of A minor, which often sounds a bit serious or thoughtful. The music has special instructions like Maestoso espressivo (meaning "majestic and expressive") and Largamente (meaning "broadly"). These tell the musicians how to play the piece to create the right mood. You can hear parts of Brahms's own music woven into this elegy, like a musical conversation or a special nod to him.

When Was It First Heard?

The Elegy for Brahms was not played for the public until after Hubert Parry himself had died. Its very first performance was in October 1918. A special concert was held to remember Parry at the Royal College of Music on November 8, 1918. After that, the piece was not played again for a long time, until 1977. Since then, it has been recorded by well-known conductors like Sir Adrian Boult and Matthias Bamert, allowing more people to hear this beautiful tribute.