Sospiri

Sospiri, Op. 70, is an adagio for string orchestra, harp (or piano), and organ (or harmonium)^[1] composed by Edward Elgar just before and performed just after the beginning of World War I.

Elgar originally intended it for violin and piano, as a companion piece to Salut d'Amour and had in mind the title Soupir d'Amour (French for "Sigh of Love"). While composing it he realised that he was writing something more intense, and so chose an Italian word, sospiri, meaning "sighs".^[2]

The work, with a performance time of approximately five minutes, was first performed on 15 August 1914 in the Queen's Hall in London, conducted by Sir Henry Wood.

Sospiri was dedicated to Elgar's long-time friend, the violinist W. H. "Billy" Reed.^[3]

Structure

Adagio 4/4 d minor

After the introduction of two bars, a melancholic melody is played by the first violin (Excerpt 1).

Excerpt 1

$\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } { \key d \minor \time 4/4 \tempo "Quasi recit." r8\fermata e'4\upbow \p \< (g8) a2~\> << a8 { s16 s16\! } >> a4( c8) d,2~ d8 c\<( d e\!) f--[ e--] d4~ d8 c-- d-- e~( e\>[ c]) c4\! }$

The other subject is displayed more passionately (Excerpt 2).

Excerpt 2^{[n 1]}

$\relative c' \new Staff \with { \remove "Time_signature_engraver" } { \key d \minor \time 4/4 \partial 2.. a'8\mf ( a') a, g'2~ g8^\markup { \bold largamente } f\< e'\f \fermata f, d'2~ d8 es,\dim ( c'\!) es,, \grace es bes''2~_\markup { \dynamic p \italic dolce } \< bes8\! a,\>( g') f,\! f'2 \p }$

Excerpt 1 reappears, followed by dying end in the harmony of F major.

Notes & references

Notes

^ A grace note appeared in third bar should be slashed.

References

^ "IMSLP, Elgar: Sospiri". Retrieved 22 July 2014.
^ Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra: programme notes Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
^ Elgar – His Music: Sospiri, Op.70

Sources

Score, Elgar: Sospiri, Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig, 1914

External links

Sospiri, Op. 70 on the site of the Elgar Society, Archived 27 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine
"Sospiri, Op. 70" by Edward Elgar, with Sol Gabetta and the Danmarks Radio SymfoniOrkestret, at youtube.com
Sospiri: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Sospiri at AllMusic

[4] A grace note appeared in third bar should be slashed.

[1] "IMSLP, Elgar: Sospiri". Retrieved 22 July 2014.

[2] Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra: programme notes Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine

[3] Elgar – His Music: Sospiri, Op.70

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