description The Music Makers Overview
The Music Makers (Op. 69) is a 1912 work by English composer Edward Elgar, setting Arthur O'Shaughnessy's ode "We are the music makers" for contralto soloist, chorus, and orchestra. The work is notable for Elgar's inclusion of self-quotations from his earlier compositions, including the Enigma Variations, The Dream of Gerontius, and the Pomp and Circumstance marches. Elgar conducted the premiere at the Birmingham Music Festival on October 1, 1912.
help The Music Makers FAQ
What poem does Elgar's The Music Makers set?
The work sets Arthur O'Shaughnessy's poem beginning We are the music makers. Edward Elgar completed it in 1912 for contralto soloist, chorus, and orchestra.
Why is The Music Makers important in Elgar's output?
Elgar weaves quotations from several of his earlier works into the score, making the piece partly a musical self-portrait. These references include material from works such as Enigma Variations and The Dream of Gerontius.
What voice is featured in The Music Makers?
The solo role is written for a contralto, supported by mixed chorus and orchestra. The low solo register gives the reflective poem a darker and more grounded color.
Is The Music Makers an opera?
No, it is a concert work for solo voice, chorus, and orchestra. It has poetic and dramatic expression, but it does not use staged operatic action or a cast of characters.
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