The Trustees’ Annual Report

1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019

Published in the Elgar Society News in April 2020and presented to the Annual General Meeting on 31 May 2020

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THE ELGAR SOCIETY

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1 January 2019 - 31 December 2019

A THE SOCIETY

Charitable Status Founded in 1951, the Society registered as charity no. 298062 on 22 January 1988.

OfficeThe Society has no registered office. Correspondence should be addressed to the Society’s Secretary at 10 Cullin Park Grove, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, ML10 6EN.

TrusteesThe following acted as Trustees during the period under review:Stuart Freed Jon Goldswain (to 2.6.19)Paul GraftonSteven Halls (to 2.6.19)Ruth Hellen Neil Mantle (from 5.10.19)Peter Newble

Philip PetcheyGeoff ScargillGeorge SmartPeter Smith (from 2.6.19)Helen Whittaker Roy Whittaker

Elected OfficersChairman: Steven Halls (to 2.6.19) Neil Mantle (from 5.10.19)Vice-Chairman: Stuart Freed Secretary: George Smart Treasurer: Helen Whittaker (to 2.6.19) Peter Smith (from 2.6.19)

Other National Post-holdersArchivist: Richard HallData Protection Officer: Richard HallJournal Editor: Meinhard SarembaMembership Secretary: Chris BennettNews Editor: Peter James Web Officers: Stuart Freed/Robert Gilbert

Branch OfficersBranch Chair SecretaryEast Anglia Peter Newble Chris

WiltshireEast Midlands Michael

ToselandSam Dobson

London Philip Petchey Ruth HellenNorth America Arthur

ReynoldsLee Kaufman

North-West Rev. John Knowles

David L. Jones

Scotland Tom Kelly Maureen Kelly

Southern David Pearce Wendy Wiseman

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West Midlands John Harcup Richard Smith

Yorkshire & North East

David Young Paul Grafton

AdvisersBankers: Lloyds TSBIndependent Examiner: Adrian Benselin

Honorary Posts and Awards

President – Julian Lloyd Webber FRCM to 2.6.19. Sir Mark Elder CH CBE 2.6.19 onwards

Vice-Presidents - Diana McVeagh, Michael Pope, Dame Janet Baker CH DBE, Leonard Slatkin, Sir Andrew Davis CBE, Dr Christopher Robinson CVO CBE, Andrew Neill, Martyn Brabbins, Sir Mark Elder CH CBE (to 2.6.19) Tasmin Little OBE, Julian Lloyd Webber FRCM (from 2.6.19)

Recipients of the Elgar Society’s Medal1992 Dr Jerrold Northrop Moore1992 Leonard Slatkin1999 Jerzy Maksymiuk2000 Tadaaki Otaka2007 Andrew Litton 2008 Sakari Oramo2009 Danube Symphony Orchestra2009 Vladimir Ashkenazy2011 Michael Kennedy2011 Anthony Payne2012 Barry Collett2012 Jacek Kaspszyk2012 Sir Colin Davis

2013 Sir Andrew Davis2013 Sir Mark Elder2015 Daniel Barenboim2015 Diana McVeagh2016 Martin Bird2016 Teresa Cahill 2016 Alexander Walker2019 Anastasia Vedyakova2019 Adrian Brown (Presentation to be made 8.3.2020)2019 Dame Janet Baker (Presentation to be arranged)

Structure, Governance and ManagementThe Society was governed under a constitution adopted with effect from 1 January 2008 and subsequently amended in June 2010 and June 2011 and June 2018. Its Council consisted of the elected officers, and seven other members of the Society.

The Executive Committee consisted of the elected officers. A representative of the Branch Chairmen’s Committee is a non-voting member. The task of the Executive Committee is to carry out the policy decisions of the Council and to deal with any matters which lie in its terms of reference.

Also in operation were Elgar in Performance, which included Elgar in Education and special projects, and the Branch Chairmen’s Committee.

Working Parties active during 2019Name Chairman/Convenor MembersElgar in Performance (including Education)

Steven Halls Barry Collett, Martyn Marsh, Peter Newble, Executive Committee

Branch Chairmen’s Committee

Philip Petchey All other Branch Chairmen

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Council and ExecutiveThe Council met twice and the Executive Committee once during 2019, with much of the business being conducted by e-mail. Since the 2019 AGM, the main topics of discussion continued to be:

progress on the remaining components of the Society’s adopted strategy; dealing with all the applications to Elgar in Performance and the education and special

projects funds; monitoring the membership numbers in the light of developing collaboration with the

National Trust at The Firs; continuing links with Elgar Freundeskreis Deutschland in Germany; changeover of President, Chairman, Treasurer and Membership Secretary, EiP Co-

ordinator, arrangements for Journal editorship and awards of the ES Medal; the continuation of the free membership scheme and keeping under review the Society's

financial position; the development of initiatives to increase membership of the Society and revised

arrangements for subscriptions; the development of Elgar in relation to music education and young people; the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

As Chairman of the Society I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues on Council, my colleagues on Executive and each and every postholder in the Society and its Branches, for all their hard work, enthusiasm, support and help since I assumed the Chairman's role during the year. Finally on behalf of the Society I would like to pay tribute to the work of Steven Halls over his ten years as Chairman. I look forward to building on that work in the coming year.

Neil Mantle MBE

BranchesThere are eight UK Branches organised geographically, and a further Branch covering America and Canada. The creation of a Branch is at the discretion of the Society’s Council and requires substantive evidence from a sufficiently large group of members that there is a reasonable assurance of viability. Branches report on their activities via the Elgar Society News and are required to submit their annual accounts to the Treasurer for consolidation with the accounts of the national Society. At their AGM in January 2019 the South Western Branch was unable to appoint any officers and is therefore no longer functioning.

RisksNo major risks have been identified by the Trustees. The Society is substantially dependent on subscriptions and Gift Aid for its income and it is thus vital to retain and increase membership while ensuring that subscription rates are realistic in the light of the charity’s activities and costs. The Trustees consider that if this is done there are no serious risks to future viability. This Annual Report states the position as at 31 December 2019 and the Trustees are not aware of any material change in risk which needs to be reported.

Objectives and ActivitiesUnder its Constitution, the Society’s objective is the education in, and promotion of, the appreciation of the public in the music of Edward Elgar and the education of the public in the life of Edward Elgar through:

a) the provision of educational programmes and activities to widen knowledge of Elgar’s music for all;

b) support for the Elgar Birthplace museum and educational establishments that attract the general public to Elgar’s music and life;

c) the funding and encouragement of performances and recordings of his works;

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d) the encouragement of research into Elgar’s music, and the publication of a scholarly journal containing the results of such research;

e) the publication of or support for a scholarly edition of Elgar’s music.

The Society seeks to promote performance of Elgar’s music, especially the more rarely performed works. While its focus has heretofore been on performances in Britain, it has emphasised encouraging performances of Elgar’s music abroad as far as its resources permit, concentrating particularly on Germany. It is concerned to introduce the composer and his music to younger audiences and, by making grants for appropriate educational activities, to enhance the quality of life of members of the public.

The Society publishes its Journal three times a year, which contains the results of Elgar research and is sold to educational institutions and the general public as well as being sent to members as part of their subscription benefit. There is also a thrice-yearly News publication sent to members only. The Society maintains a website which is proving increasingly valuable for members and non-members alike.

Funds are centrally administered, the Council approving the annual budget and budget heads. Branches submit bids for support of their activities based on their administrative costs plus an element in support of their local meetings. Grants are made both to Branches and outside bodies in respect of specific charitable activities and are awarded only when a proposed project is shown to have satisfied strict conditions relating to the stated aims and objectives of the Society. The Society’s grant-making policy is conditioned by its objectives and its relatively constrained financial resources. In general, grants are made for the major purposes listed below.

Assisting sole or group performers, especially in non-commercial situations, who are prepared to play rarer Elgar works or to perform in locations in which the composer’s music is unlikely otherwise to be heard and at which the public constitute the majority of attenders.

Supporting educational activities at all levels from primary to higher and continuous learning that inculcate in the participants special and intellectual skills by using Elgar, his life and/or music as a test bed for such activities or which enhance knowledge of English culture and history.

Aiding institutions which have a role in the musical and historical aspects of Elgar to widen the accessibility of their services to socially diverse audiences and/or to provide specific Elgar-related public benefits.

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B ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019)

General OverviewUnder Initial Achievements & Plans, the last Trustees’ Annual Report stated that, in 2018, the Society in partnership with other organisations would undertake the tasks listed below. Progress is described on each one in italics below.In considering undertaking any activities, the four objectives below are the criteria against which we judge any proposals so that we might:1. increase our membership;2. raise money in support of our activities;3. add demonstrably to the funding and encouragement of performances and recordings of Elgar’s

works;4. increase access to the Elgar oeuvre.

At national level, and with all due acknowledgement of Branch activities, our efforts will focus on the following areas.

Elgar in Performance and the Other Projects Fund - The fund was maintained at £18,000 and continues to support a range of performances as set out below.

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We shall continue to support Meinhard Saremba to settle in his role as the Editor of the Journal following his auspicious start. Sadly Meinhard has decided to step down as Editor and arrangements were put in place for an editorial board to continue the production of an informative and interesting Journal.

We shall continue to seek to raise sponsorship and legacies to enable us to expand our work and ensure it extends into the future. We shall encourage donations and legacies for specific projects.

Council have made restricted progress on how we can meaningfully support educational work associated with Elgar but we shall observe the efforts of West Midlands Branch during 2018. With the support of Council, the West Midlands Branch has continued to develop initiatives - see their report below. The Council and Chairmen have discussed wider initiatives. A project has been agreed with the National Trust to support financially school visits to The Firs, and further developments in this pilot are anticipated. Another proposal in relation to Young Performers is being planned.

Council will consider nominations for the Elgar Society Medal and Certificate of Merit. An award of the medal was made, at a concert in November, to Anastasia Vedyakova, a young Russian violinist, in recognition of her efforts in performing and promoting Elgar in Russia. Medal awards were also agreed for Adrian Brown and Dame Janet Baker.

We look forward to collaborating with the National Trust on local and national initiatives. The West Midlands Branch in particular has fostered warm links with the management of The Firs, and regular discussions take place on ways of supporting wider initiatives.

The AGM and Birthday Weekend will be reviewed to consider whether a new format and location might stimulate support in another part of the country. The Elgar Festival in Worcester, supported by the Society, expanded its offering in 2019 and was very well supported. Stimulating support in other parts of the country remains under review.

We shall continue to work more closely with Elgar Works and the Elgar Complete Edition to make more of Elgar’s music available in a timely fashion at a reasonable cost to performers and conductors all over the world. We shall continue to promote Elgar Works and the Elgar Complete Edition.

RecordingsWhilst there have been discussions on particular projects there have not been any recordings supported financially during the year.

Elgar in Performance/Education/Other Projects

The grants listed below were awarded out of a total of 35 applications, using the Council-mandated grants budget of £18,000. During the year, Barry Collett resigned from co-ordinating the EiP applications and his place was taken by Steven Halls. Both remain on the Elgar in Performance Group, which comprises the Executive Committee, Barry, Steven and Martyn Marsh.

£Cobbe Piano CollectionPro Musica Vocale LucerneWymondhamSOMarisa GuptaEly Choral SocietyShrewsbury Choral SocietyFriedrich-Spee-Chor TrierEv. Kirchengemeinde D’ldorfHighWycombe CSEdinburgh FestivalElgar Fest Birthday WeekendEnglish Music Festival

Care of Elgar's PianoMusicMakersGiveUnto.EnigmaViolin SonataMusicMakersThe KingdomDream of GerontiusThe ApostlesBlackKnight SeaPix CockaigneThe KingdomSeaPix cello concertoSonata4tetSongsSerenade

GuildfordLucerneWym AbbeyLondon/France/USAEly CathedralShrewsbury AbbeySt Maximin TrierDüsseldorf OdenthalAllSaints HWUsher Hall

400621200500500

10001000100010001000700350

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Woodstock Music SocietyMonterverdichor WürzburgSt Andrews ChoirBach Cantata GroupSouthwell Choral SocietyThe Waynflete SingersHorsforth Choral SocietyMaidstone Choral SocietyFinchley Symphony OrchNewcastle on Tyne Bach ChoirAnastasia VedyakovaAlexander WalkerYorkshire Music FestivalAmerican SOCambUniv Symphony Chorus

Light of Life The SnowThe Light of LifeThe KingdomThe KingdomThe Music MakersThe KingdomBavarian HighlandsBavarian HighlandsEnigma/ Music MakersThe Kingdom10piecesViolin&Piano OrgSta Dream of GerontiusViolin SonataThe KingdomThe Kingdom

WorcesterRadley, DorchesterWoodstock, OxonWürzburgSt. AndrewsBathSouthwellWinchester HorsforthMaidstoneFinchleyNewcastleSt PetersburgBucharestAysgarthNew YorkEly Cathedral

75010001000100050060090

100500350518

100050

500500

16729

Steven Halls - EiP Co-ordinator

The Journal

During 2019 issues of the Elgar Society Journal were published in April, August, and December, of 72, 84 and 88 pages respectively. Particular highlights were contributions by Julian Lloyd Webber, Julian Rushton, Peter Sutton’s essay ‘Alice Elgar, Poet of her Time’, Kevin Allen’s research on Hugh Blair, and Burkhard Sauerwald’s analysis of Elgar, Schumann, Uhland and Longfellow, as well as yet unpublished historic interviews with Yehudi Menuhin and Adrian Boult. The December issue included the last contributions by the former editor and Elgar scholar Martin Bird who had passed away but finished several essays before his death.The new column ‘Elgar viewed from afar’, to illustrate how Elgar was seen in non-British countries during his lifetime, included contributions from Austria, Germany and Catalonia.From 2020 onwards there will now be a team of British editors with Kevin Mitchell, Andrew Neill, David Morris, Stuart Freed and Andrew Dalton. Meinhard Saremba, Editor of the Journal.

The News

As usual, three editions of the News were published in 2019, in April, August and December.  I attempt to cover all news with an Elgarian content, together with the latest information from the Society's officers and Branches, including as many colour photos as possible.  The News relies on largely unsolicited items of interest from occasional or one-off contributors so Society members should please continue to send their articles.  Special thanks are due to Robert Gilbert, typesetter and compiler of the concert diary, and regular contributors including Richard Smith, John Norris, Andrew Neill and Tom Kelly.

Peter James, Editor of the News

Membership Report

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As at 31 December 2019 there were 1026 members. This shows a small increase on the previous year’s total of 1015. However it should be remembered that because the accuracy of the subscriptions record couldn’t be guaranteed until fairly late in the year, we did not execute the usual ‘cull’ of non-paying members in 2019. The actual total might be 50 lower than the figure stated.

In 2019 there were 52 new members, of whom 21 were free.It should be noted that since the entirely sensible decision to request standing order details from all new FREE members was taken, very few have actually completed their registration.

Branch analysis

Branch membership 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012East Anglia 56 57 50 65 56 51 52 47East Midlands 37 31 24 33 26 17 10 -London 320 321 307 338 349 362 353 350North America/Canada 49 42 45 45 36 34 46 63North-West 120 117 113 127 125 128 120 125Scottish 50 47 59 59 61 72 68 71Southern 89 97 90 102 86 107 106 116South-West* 54 58 58 64 67 69 79 84West Midlands 229 216 187 210 210 247 229 281Yorkshire/North-East 55 53 45 50 46 46 24 11No Branch Affiliation 161 127 143 160 180 258 270 285

* Although the South West Branch is no longer functioning members who are recorded against that Branch are included here to indicate the geographical spread of membership.

Chris Bennett - Honorary Membership Secretary

The Archives

There have been no additions to the Society's Archive deposited at the Hive in Worcester during the past year (partly due to the Archivist's illness), but the following material has been received:

Programme for A Choral Festival to raise funds for the Birthplace of Sir Edward Elgar presented by the Elgar Foundation, Royal Albert Hall, 15 July 1980. Deposited by Martin Passande (London Branch)

Videos of London Branch outing to Settle for unveiling of Elgar-Buck plaque in May 1989 and of BBC Prom including performance of Elgar/Payne Symphony No 3, 13 August 1998.

CDs (6) of conference sessions and dinner celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Elgar Society, Worcester, 2001. Deposited by Andrew Dalton (London Branch).

Richard Hall - Hon. Archivist

Branch Activities

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The Society recognises that Branches contribute to the Society’s health as they promote membership and local activity throughout the country. They are particularly important for members who enjoy meeting fellow Elgarians and listening to Elgar talks and performances in their home area.

East Anglian Branch

The East Anglian Branch met eight times in 2019 at our usual venue, the Discovery Centre at the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Overall there has been a significant drop in attendance throughout the season, numbers varying between 16 and 30.

The Branch welcomed Andrew Neill, musicians Harvey Davies and Sarah Ewins, Relf Clarke, Arthur Reynolds, Andrew Keener, Kevin Mitchell and friends, Julian Rushton and Christopher Wiltshire.

The topics were varied and interesting: a thorough investigation of The Black Knight, Elgar’s Violin Sonata, The Sanguine Fan and The Fringes of the Fleet. We also heard an appreciation of the life of Michael Kennedy, a career in recording music, a comparison of the lives of Elgar and William Walton and a collection of recordings of radio interviews describing Elgar in his lifetime.

Bev Simpson - East Anglian Branch

East Midlands Branch

2019 has been a successful year with a varied programme of talks covering all things relating to Sir Edward and the age in which he lived.

John Drysdale got 2019 off to a flying start in February (our first meeting of the year) with an excellent talk, Elgar's Earnings, on Elgar's finances – based on his own original research. Tom Kelly travelled from Scotland to entertain us in March with a behind-the-scenes view in Enigmatic Variations. A fascinating afternoon! In April broadcaster Stephen Johnson, in My Ideal, gave interesting thoughts on the influence Robert Schumann had on Edward Elgar. In May Wendy Hill talked about The Early Years of Edward Elgar, a period often ignored or at least glossed over, its later legacy unrecognised. On cue, Barry Collett gave Lesser-known Elgar an airing in June. Those who know Barry from his recordings were well prepared for an in-depth trawl through early and late works.

After a summer break Geoff Scargill told us in October about a Miracle in Manchester. He expanded on the life of John Barbirolli, whose time with the Hallé included many Elgar performances. Elgar as we knew him was a fitting title for Christopher Wiltshire’s archival lecture in November. He drew from contemporary writings and reminiscences; there is a Part 2 promised! The year ended with December’s Edward Elgar and Richard Wagner by Michael Butterfield. Wagner’s influence on Elgar cannot be underestimated and Michael emphasised his points with expertly delivered piano illustrations.

The Branch is very aware of probable funding issues in years to come. We have budgeted carefully within the amount allotted and found there is no need to cut down on quality, at least in the foreseeable future.

To streamline production of an annual financial report it has been decided to change our year in line with the calendar. This means the next AGM is in February 2020. There have been four members' meetings since the AGM in May. The average attendance was: members 13, friends 3 = 16.

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So, we have to combat falling attendance, but the main problem in the Branch is getting people to volunteer for committee posts. With much regret I am resigning as Chairman and committee member from 1 January. This is due to progressive ill health. I have greatly enjoyed being able to help in this Branch’s organisation. In particular my thanks to Sam Dobson, presently Secretary and Treasurer. His efficiency and everyday running of the Branch cannot be faulted. I am sure he will rise to the occasion. I wish all members well and hope there will be some Society members who will come forward to serve and keep the Branch running.

Michael Toseland - Branch Chairman, East Midlands

London Branch

London Branch held eight meetings as follows: February 4 Collecting Elgariana: the unruly passion: Arthur Reynolds March 4 Perspectives on Elgar from an early 21st century composer's

viewpoint: Robert SaxtonApril 1 The Dream of Gerontius in Canterbury Cathedral: joint meeting with

Friends of the LPOMay 11 Elgar and Handel: Relf Clark; The Gerald Coke Collection: Katharine

Hogg (Foundling Museum)June 10 Branch AGM, followed by an organ recital by Nicholas Morris

(St George’s Hanover Square)October 7 Elgar’s Brinkwells works: A requiem for the War?: Adrian Brown

Reports of the above meetings appear in the relevant issues of Elgar Society News.

At the meeting on 4 November, David Bell spoke about his career as an organist. He played the organ for performances and recordings conducted by Barbirolli, Boult, Handley and many others including, for fifteen years, Herbert von Karajan. He played in several works by Elgar, and re-introduced the organ part in the Second Symphony. It was interesting to realise how many orchestral works include an organ part. In his introduction to the evening, Malcolm Walker paid tribute to David’s skill as an organist, but also as a tape editor for EMI at the Abbey Road Studios.

The 2 December meeting was a very special occasion. Roderick Williams gave a most entertaining and informative talk about his career, which took off once he made the move from teaching to almost accidentally becoming a specialist in British music. He spoke of his approach to performing Elgar’s music and it was fascinating to hear how his interpretations have developed over the years. He also spoke briefly about his work as a composer.

An event also attended by several Society members from other Branches was the British Library’s day of talks entitled Celebrating Elgar. This was arranged to mark the Elgar Foundation’s generous donation to the Library of much of the archive material formerly housed at the Elgar Birthplace (The Firs). From speakers including Julian Rushton, Daniel Grimley and John Norris we heard how access to a range of autograph sources helps with research, performance and publication. We also heard several recordings from the Sound Archive which were new to most of those present. A panel discussion focused on sources of biographical information, asking whether there was a need for additional biographies of Elgar and whether new themes should be investigated. This was an extremely rewarding and enjoyable day, and it was good to hear from BL staff about plans for making these sources more widely available in the future.

Our thanks go to all who contributed to the year’s events.

Ruth Hellen - London Branch Secretary

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North America Branch

The North American Branch is self- funding.  We serve two objectives: (1) to hold a three-day conference once a year in a place where our members can hear a performance of an important Elgar work, and (2) to encourage our members to contribute to the Elgar Society’s central objective of furthering our appreciation of the man and his music.

Our 9th annual conference, held in San Francisco this year, has been fully described in the News.  In addition, during 2019, members of our Branch made two significant contributions to the furtherance of our awareness of Edward Elgar’s music. Diane Nolan Cooke edited Volume 12 of the Complete Edition, and Lani Spahr produced the Somm CD, Elgar in America. 

Arthur Reynolds - North American Branch

North West Branch

During 2019, The North West Branch held eight meetings, the reports on most of which have been given in the relevant issues of the News. In summary, these were:

19 January Filling the Gaps (an audio-visual presentation) - Steven Halls followed by the Annual General Meeting.

17 February The North West Branch Annual Luncheon held at The Alma Lodge Hotel, Stockport. Guest speakers: Fae Jones and Ken Swallow – both of whom talked about and played a recording of a piece of music which had a special significance for them.

09 March Judas Iscariot in Music - Peter Newble (an audio-visual presentation)06 April Barbirolli and Elgar (an audio-visual presentation) - David Jones (Secretary of the

North West Branch)18 May Elgar, Blackwood and The Starlight Express (an audio-visual presentation) -

Kevin Mitchell, Stephen Harrow, Peter Nixon, Lynn Nixon12 October Elgar before the Enigma Variations – The Forging of a Style (a talk illustrated by

recorded music) - Barry Collett 09 November A Desert Island Discs-style of interview with recorded music - Darren Niman

was interviewed by Geoff Scargill (both are NW Branch members)(this meeting was held at the Quaker Meeting House in Liverpool)

07 December Elgar as I knew him – Part Two (an audio-visual presentation – with the recorded voices of those who knew Elgar) - Chris Wiltshire

In addition to our regular Branch meetings, the North West Branch arranged and sponsored a recital at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on 5 November 2019 in which the talented professional Russian violinist Anastasia Vedyakova, accompanied on the piano by Barry Collett, gave a recital entitled Elgar and the Violin. Some of the pieces we heard were very familiar, others were very rarely heard. It was a fascinating recital, given by two distinguished musicians with playing of the highest standard. The recital was open to members of the public as well as members and friends of the North West Branch and the large audience showed their appreciation with rapturous applause. The Council of the Elgar Society had decided to award Anastasia the Elgar Medal for her considerable efforts in promoting Elgar and his music throughout Russia, and Elgar Society Vice-Chairman Stuart Freed, who attended the recital, gave a speech and made the presentation at the end of the recital.

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Each of our Branch meetings is reported in full in our annual newsletter (issued in August) and a link to a pdf file of the full colour newsletter and programme is available on our NW Branch website page.

Our Branch membership is stable at 120 members in December 2019. Despite the inevitable loss of some members, we are balancing this with new memberships. We are maintaining our active publicity drive to recruit new members by various forms of local advertising. We are also attracting visitors to each of our Branch meetings and some of these have now become Society members as a result.

Our home base for our meetings is at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, but during 2019 we held one meeting at the Quaker Meeting House in Liverpool – now part of our schedule.

Please note: NW Branch Chairman, John Knowles; Hon. Secretary, David L. Jones; Programme Secretary, Geoff Scargill; Treasurer, Geoff Hill. John Knowles, David Jones and Geoff Scargill will put themselves forward for re-nomination at the AGM on 18 January 2020. Geoff Hill has decided to stand down as Treasurer and Brian Walker has agreed to allow his name to be put forward at the AGM for nomination as the new NW Branch Treasurer. There are currently no other nominations.

David L. Jones - Branch Secretary, North West Branch

Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch held five Branch meetings in 2019, all in Edinburgh at our regular venue of St Mark’s Unitarian Church. At the end of the year the Branch had 50 members.

In February our Chairman presented Enigmatic Variations with excerpts from Elgar’s own piano version played by Branch member Leon Coates. Popular as ever, the ‘Enigma’ Variations are consistently rewarding to revisit and rehear and Edinburgh was blessed with three performances of the work during the year - by the Edinburgh University Music Society Sinfonia on 23 March (for which we provided a programme note), the visiting Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on 7 April, and the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra on 9 August.

John Howden, also of our Branch, gave a fascinating talk and analysis of Elgar’s own recordings in April. John illustrated the contrast, and progress, in the recordings from the early acoustic to the later electrical recordings. This was followed by the Branch AGM.

In June Peter Newble of East Anglia Branch gave Judas Iscariot up to and beyond The Apostles, his thought-provoking, revisionist view of Elgar’s representation of the character in The Apostles against more traditional musical representations of the character. Bass-baritone Zorbey Turkalp added a recital including music from Elgar’s Caractacus and Fringes of the Fleet.

The September meeting focused on one work - the Piano Quintet - with an introduction to the music and then a splendid performance by members of the Bach Ensemble of Edinburgh.

On 2 November Neil Mantle (new Chairman of the Elgar Society) discussed and illustrated in conversation the Elgar/Payne 3rd Symphony, prior to a fine performance he conducted with his Scottish Sinfonia later in the month. The commitment and warmth of the performance confirmed Neil’s conclusion that, any reservations notwithstanding about some of Payne’s input, Elgar’s music was too valuable and moving not to be heard in full concert performance. The Branch meeting

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concluded with a lively and well-prepared piano recital by student Mark Rogers, whose programme included Elgar’s Five Piano Improvisations.

Live music is now an established feature of the Branch meetings and thanks and appreciation are due to Linny Lawson for arranging performances. The Branch is fortunate in having so many members who are performers themselves or teachers of students willing to give performances. Special mention this year is also due to our Treasurer, Ian Lawson, who not only accompanied the piano recital at our June meeting but gave the organ version of Imperial March on the organ of his own church to celebrate a ‘personal anniversary’.

Tea refreshments are another well-established feature of Branch meetings with home baking provided by Maureen Kelly and the loyal team of helpers. Notoriously, Elgarians have larger appetites than their counterparts in the Jane Austen Society Scottish Branch!

2019 also saw a wider range of activity in support of Elgar’s music beyond Branch meetings. Our Chairman gave well-attended pre-concert talks for performances of The Kingdom - by local forces in St Andrews, conducted by Michael Downes, on 29 April - and of the three Brinkwells chamber music works - by the Brodsky Quartet (with its new leader) on 11 November.

Joint activity included a meeting on 14 April hosted by the Wagner Society of Scotland at which Michael Downes gave a talk on Elgar’s Oratorios as Music Drama. Elgar in Performance gave much appreciated support to Michael Downes’s performance of The Kingdom, and also to the performance of the same work conducted by Martyn Brabbins in the Edinburgh Festival. Branch members were invited to a full forces rehearsal and to meet Martyn Brabbins the day before. The Kingdom had finally come to Edinburgh!

All in all, 2019 demonstrated that there are many ways in which Scottish Branch can extend its reach to the wider music scene. So far this has been concentrated on the east coast - in Edinburgh and St Andrews. But we hope to take outreach further as opportunities arise elsewhere in Scotland.

Tom Kelly - Branch Chairman, Scottish Branch

Southern Branch

I took over the role of Chairman of the Southern Branch of the Society from William Cole at the Branch AGM in February 2019, having previously served as Vice-Chairman. I would wish to express my thanks to William, who has moved to Staffordshire, for his careful and enthusiastic management of the Branch. I have subsequently attended two meetings of Branch Chairmen in London.

2019 was a year marked by eight varied and generally well-attended meetings (only 28 in May!), which are freely open to all. The only exception was a departure from our normal format, when we held a live recital of English song, entitled Elgar and Beyond, as our January meeting. It was given by Alex Poulton (baritone – who also acts as voice coach at Southampton Choral Society) and Peter Rhodes (piano); it took place in the small theatre at The Spring Arts Centre in Havant and was sold out (~100 people)! It was necessary to charge a small fee for members and non-members alike to cover the cost of the performers’ fees and the theatre hire. There was a small surplus that contributed to Branch funds. We are in the process of organising something similar for the 2021 season. We have previously maintained a steady membership of about 98, but this was reduced at the end of last year to 89 owing to deaths and resignations.  Our meetings continue to alternate between Winchester and Havant.

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The rest of the season covered subjects ranging from Albert Sammons (Michael Jameson), Elgar and Parry – writing for the violin (with a practical demonstration of the differences from the violinist Rupert Marshall-Luck) to Kathleen Ferrier (Christopher Fifield) and Malcolm Sargent (Andrew Keener). I gave an illustrated talk on Elgar and the Bach Revival and the season concluded with British Men-of-War from local choral conductor Derek Beck. Our speakers are usually a combination of local musicians, national musical personalities and our own Elgar Society SB members. I am grateful to our Vice-Chair, Duncan Eves, for replacing a sick Chris Wiltshire (EA Branch) at short notice, with Elgar, Genius of the Orchestra.

Our committee continues to work hard with much enthusiasm. Duncan Eves (Vice-Chair) did much of the work to arrange the current 2020 programme. Ed and Wendy Wiseman (Secretary) have been stalwarts of the committee for many years and Margaret Morphew continues to seek opportunities to engage younger people, plus other organisational tasks. Peter Willey has also been organising our publicity for a long time and is much appreciated. The Rev. Stephen Wilkins is a relative newcomer to the committee, but he has made great strides to bring us into the modern era with communications on Facebook and Twitter (Twitter seems to be the more effective). Stephen also has charge of the Southern Branch website, which he maintains at his own expense. The website was established by former committee member Dave May (long before my time) and is regarded as essential to conveying our Branch message. Our Treasurer, Jean Jones, has given devoted service for very many years and now wishes to retire. It is of some concern that no one appears to be coming forward to take this vital role.

Several of our members are also choral singers and regularly take part in local performances. We attempt to attend and display Elgar Society publicity at all local events performing works by Elgar. A peak of performance occurred at Winchester Cathedral at the end of 2019, when the Waynflete Singers gave a performance of The Kingdom to a packed house on a day with so many other local concerts. Our Duncan was in the choral line-up! However, even with a full house and support from Elgar in Performance, the costs of performing in somewhere like Winchester Cathedral are enormous and rarely can even a modest surplus be made. My overall concern is that future funding of the Elgar Society, as a whole, will diminish to a point where we can no long support all the activities we would like. The Trustees may wish to ponder the point.

David Pearce - Chairman, Elgar Society Southern Branch

West Midlands Branch

Our Branch continues to hold the majority of its meetings at The Firs, Elgar’s Birthplace, although we occasionally return to St Leonard’s Church of the Beauchamp Community in Malvern.

We continue to publish our yearly events leaflet and this is distributed by mail to our members and, electronically, to the Secretaries and Chairmen of other Branches. Our Branch Newsletter is also included in January and July mailings and proves an excellent way of keeping members apprised of all we are doing. We are delighted to report that our ongoing commitment of attempting to bring classical music in general, and Elgar in particular, to our young people is now being well supported by the Executive. We feel that this is vital if we, as a Society, are to survive.

Our programme for 2019 was as follows:

16 January A Jaundiced View? David Parkes examined the musical world of Elgar's time as reflected in the writings of George Bernard Shaw. Extracts from Shaw's criticisms were read by Peter Sutton.

16 February Annual Branch Lunch at Christ Church Hall, Malvern, including a short quiz.

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9 March AGM and Leonard Bernstein, a talk by Jon Goldswain, Vice-Chairman of the WM Branch, on the career of the famous American composer and conductor.

6 April His name will always be spoken… an illustrated presentation by Rupert Marshall-Luck on Elgar and Parry’s writing for the violin.

18 May Elgar and the hacks of Fleet Street, a talk by Richard Westwood-Brookes who examined aspects of Elgar's life as reported by the Press.

22 June Journeying with my cello, a talk by the cellist Rachael Howgego who worked with many illustrious musicians. She owns Beatrice Harrison’s cello which she played. Meeting at St. Leonard’s Church of the Beauchamp Community.

13 July A form of genius, a presentation by Stuart Freed on the long and varied career of Gordon Jacob, one of Britain's most respected teachers and composers.

30 July Elgar and English Cathedral Music by Timothy Day, to complement his recent book I Saw Eternity the Other Night, at the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival, followed by the Elgar Society lunch. This event was organised at short notice by the WM Branch owing to the suspension of the South-West Branch.

14 September A Cathedral musician’s reflections, a most amusing talk by Robert Green who worked as assistant organist at both Lichfield and Hereford Cathedrals.

15 September The Secret Source of Elgar - the orchestral music of Arthur Sullivan by Dr Jerrold Northrop Moore. This was a joint meeting with the Autumn in Malvern Festival.

12 October A concert by the Elgar Chorale, which was founded in 1980 and is one of the leading chamber choirs in the West Midlands. Their programme of all Elgar pieces was conducted by Piers Maxim.

16 November Grania and Diarmid by Andrew Neill, formerly Chairman of the national Elgar Society, explaining the origins of Elgar’s incidental music to the play.

7 December One of the old school, solid, and good, and a gentleman. Dr Jim Berrow described the career of William Done, organist and Choirmaster at Worcester Cathedral during Elgar’s early years.

Richard Smith - Branch Secretary, West Midlands Branch

Yorkshire & North East Branch

The 2019 season began with the AGM on 26 January, and the election of the Committee, which remained unchanged from the previous year except for the new Chairman, Dr David Young, and the appointment of Paul Kampen as Deputy Treasurer, with Caroline Gilderdale (Speaker Secretary), Paul Grafton (Branch Secretary), Howard Gregg, Tony Pook, Prof. Bernard Porter, Prof. Julian Rushton, Pamela Scowcroft, Philip Scowcroft and Richard Surrey completing the team. The Committee have worked very well together. Communication is by e-mail, informal impromptu meetings before the talks, and an annual committee meeting in February where strategic matters are considered. A small working group (Chairman, Branch Secretary, Treasurer, and Speaker Secretary) work on specific issues and report back to the full Committee.

Following the 2019 AGM the outgoing Chairman, Tony Pook, gave a presentation on Elgar’s concert overtures, which brought Tony’s distinguished stewardship to a fitting close after seven years at the helm. The other talks and presentations have also been of a high standard: Rupert Marshall-Luck on Elgar and Parry - writing for the violin, a talk illustrated at the violin; Jonathan Clinch on Elgar and Herbert Howells; Daniel Grimley on Elgar’s Sanguine Fan, complete with useful analytical handout; Jonathan Wainwright on Gerontius with MS notes by Elgar (during which some of our members demonstrated their skill at deciphering Elgar’s not always easy handwriting); and Andrew Neill on Diarmuid and Gráinne – of which talk a full version appears in the December 2019 Elgar Society Journal. For family reasons, Stuart Freed had to postpone his talk on The Lighter Side of Elgar until this year but we were fortunate to have as replacement the Chairman of the North-West Branch, John Knowles, whose talk was on Edward Elgar, Liverpool and Malcolm

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Sargent. A different kind of presentation was given by the Fairfax Ensemble, who gave a lecture-recital on the music of Elgar and his contemporaries to the dawn of the First World War and during the 20s and early 30s. We believe that the presentations have struck the right balance between musicological rigour and accessibility. All have been well received.

The Committee have given much thought to our venue and, having looked at alternatives, have decided to stay at the Bar Convent in York at least for this year and next. The main disadvantages are the high rental costs - the Bar Convent now insists on charging by the half-day rather than by the hour - and the lack of a piano for lecture-demonstrations and recitals.

We would very much like to increase membership of our Branch. To this end we have distributed Branch leaflets, and had major publicity pushes at concerts in Leeds Town Hall and, with our new pull-up banner, at the Harrogate Royal Hall. This is a gradual process, helped by our growing reputation as a welcoming, warm and friendly community.

I would like to end this annual report by thanking our committee - especially our Branch Secretary, Paul Grafton, Speaker Secretary, Caroline Gilderdale, and Treasurer, Paul Kampen - for their outstanding work.

David Young - Chairman Yorkshire & NE Branch

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C 2019 INITIAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS

Given the purpose of the Society is the education in and promotion of the appreciation of the public in the music of Edward Elgar and the education of the public in his life, Council have agreed a strategy that enabled our activities to be grouped under the aims mentioned under it, viz:a. the provision of educational programmes and activities to widen knowledge of Elgar’s music for

all and to develop the public benefit achieved by the Society;b. support for the Elgar Birthplace, museums and educational establishments that attract the general

public to Elgar’s music and life;c. the funding and encouragement of performances and recordings of his works;d. the encouragement of research into Elgar’s music, and the publication of a scholarly journal

containing the results of such research;e. the publication of or support for a scholarly edition of Elgar’s music.

During the year there was a significant amount of change in the Officers of the Society with a new Treasurer and a new Membership Secretary getting into their roles. The Vice-Chairman ably steered the ship during the interregnum until I assumed the Chairmanship. All the Officers have worked well together to handle the changes smoothly. The Council will now need to develop its strategy for the future.

Neil Mantle, Elgar Society Chairman

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The Elgar Society - Accounts for the Year Ended 31 December 2019

Statement of Financial Activities2019 2018

£ £IncomeSubscriptions 24,179 26,555 Gift Aid 3,700 3,841 Royalties 168 188 Investment income 5,144 1 Branch receipts 10,623 16,713 Other 470 649 Donations 70 505 Total income 44,354 48,452

ExpenditureSociety objectivesJournals & Newsletters 10,428 10,394 Branch Activities 18,386 26,652 AGM 364 1,285 PR & Advertising 505 36 Web site 690 - Sundry 1,367 2,291 Elgar in Performace 16,329 12,838 Elgar Medals - - AdministrationAuthorised exps Council & Executive 2,369 2,317 Membership administration 114 - Total Expenditure 50,552 55,813

Deficit (6,198) (7,361)Balances b/f 104,606 111,967 Balances c/f 98,408 104,606

Balance sheet 2019 2018 £ £

Current accounts 19,334 1,769 Investec investment 54,125 84,125 Branches' bank balances 26,843 22,975 Debtors and Accrued Income 3,775 - Less owed by the Society (5,669) (4,263)Net assets 98,408 104,606

Restricted FundsKay 3,960 3,960 Branches (London & West Midlands ) 17,680 17,680

21,640 21,640

General fund 76,768 82,966

Total funds 98,408 104,606

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