Description
In the summer of 1914 Elgar set out to write a companion piece for his hugely popular Salut d’Amour for violin and piano. He initially entitled it Soupir d’Amour (French for ‘Sigh of Love’) but, as the piece took shape in the months leading up to the outbreak of the First World War, he realised he was writing something much more intense. Deciding against the Salut d’Amour coupling the piece became a standalone work for string orchestra (with harp/piano and organ/harmonium). Elgar also gave it a new title, Sospiri (Italian for ‘Sighs’)
Sospiri is a melancholic, heartfelt adagio of great emotional power in which Elgar’s voice is unmistakable. It features yearning, musical depictions of sighs in the form of intervals of falling sevenths. Elgar dedicated the piece to his long-time friend, the violinist W. H. “Billy” Reed, leader of the London Symphony Orchestra.
