Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
CIVIC FANFARE (Hereford)
Goodmusic Concert Classics GMCL162
Level of Difficulty
Attributing a particular level of difficulty to an orchestral piece is awkward!
A piece may be easy for the strings but difficult for the brass; it may feature a tricky instrumental solo but the other parts may be relatively straight forward. A number of the arrangements listed are designed to simplify works to some extent but composers of many original works featured did not consider difficulty when writing them.
What our levels mean:
A = for players up to UK Grade 3
B = Grade 3 to 5
C = Grade 4 to 6
D = Grade 5 to 7
E = Grade 6 to 8
F = Grade 7 and over
Our gradings should be taken only as a rough guide.
To be sure if a piece is suitable for you, take a look at the score.
Orchestration
Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais*, 2 Clarinets in Bb, Bass Clarinet*, 2 Bassoons, Contra Bassoon*
4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (Side Drum, Cymbals, Bass Drum), Organ*
Strings (Viola, Cello, Bass)
* = Instruments marked with an asterisk may be omitted
Elgar's Civic Fanfare was written in 1927 as an opening item for the Hereford Three Choirs Festival. It was designed to link with Elgar's 1902 arrangement of the National Anthem. The Civic Fanfare received occasional performances up to 1949, but then disappeared from the repertoire, the manuscript full score being retained in private hands. The recording of Elgar's 1930 performance of the Civic Fanfare was released on LP in the mid 1970s and has since been made available on CD. There are many overtures, but few fanfares, for full orchestra, and the Civic Fanfare provides a rousing opening item for any concert.
The orchestral material has not previously been published for sale.
A study score with detailed editorial commentary is also available from Acuta Music.
Duration 1½ minutes
A PACK comprises one A4 sized full score, string parts -/-/3/4/2 and all wind and brass parts.
An A3 sized full score is also available separately.
Audio Sample
Click the play button below to hear a performance which has been computer-generated from the score.