Cello Songs After the War in Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
III. Adagio
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
I'm Elgar, and I'm pleased to be the one explaining the third movement of my Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, the Adagio. In under five minutes you'll hear the solo cello sing slowly and quietly, with the orchestra staying gently in the background, and you'll see how much feeling a short, calm movement can hold. Since my fellow composers and I also teach you on this site to recognize our pieces when they play, why not try it in the Trainer now?
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Hold Still and Let the Cello Sing
I'd suggest you treat this movement like a quiet conversation in which only one person is really talking, and that person is the solo cello. The orchestra around it, with its strings, woodwinds, brass and timpani, mostly makes room for that voice instead of competing with it. Listen first to the strings, which spread a warm cushion of sound under everything, and then notice how the cello floats above it. The whole movement lasts about 4 minutes 50 seconds, so you only have to sit still for less time than it takes to brew a decent cup of tea.Why I Wrote Just One Word
Adagio is the Italian word for slow, and it is the only marking I put on this movement. I didn't add a second tempo or a long instruction, because the music needed no more explaining than that. It is the third of four movements in a work lasting just under 30 minutes, and after the restless movement before it, a plain word asking for calm felt right. The concerto is more contemplative and elegiac than my earlier Violin Concerto, and this is the place where that mood is at its most direct.Neither Sonata Nor Rondo, Thank You
Choosing a form for this movement was an adventure of its own, because the usual choices, a sonata or a rondo, felt far too busy for what I wanted to say. So I let it be one long song that grows out of a quiet start, reaches a peak and then settles again. I'll divide it into four sections here, simply by how each one sounds and feels. We'll take them one at a time in the next paragraphs, so you always know where you are.Section 1: The Orchestra Sets the Table
The movement begins with the orchestra alone, slow and hushed, before the soloist has said a word. The tempo is Adagio, and the strings spread a warm, steady sound that tells you not to expect any hurry. The mood is calm and a little solemn, like a room where people have lowered their voices. Treat these first moments as the breath you take before the cello begins.Section 2: The Cello Finally Gets a Word In
Then the solo cello enters with a long, singing melody that rises slowly and seems to hold its breath near the top. The orchestra softens to a murmur beneath it, so you can follow every note. The mood is tender and sincere, with none of the weight of the opening chords of the first movement. If you remember only one tune from this movement, make it this one, because its feeling comes back to us later.Section 3: The Heart Beats a Little Harder
Next the music gathers strength, and the orchestra swells, with the brass lending it a darker glow. The tempo stays Adagio, but the feeling grows more urgent, as though the cello has something it can no longer keep to itself. Pay attention to how the cello answers the orchestra, sometimes with passion and sometimes with a plain, steady line. This is the emotional high point of the movement, though I never let it turn into a shout.Section 4: Putting the Candle Out Gently
After the peak the sound relaxes and the opening calm returns, though it feels different now, like coming back to a familiar place after a long day. The cello sings softer and softer while the orchestra thins out around it. The movement ends quietly, so wait for the last note to fade away before you decide what you think. Next comes the finale, the longest movement of the four at about 11½ minutes.Your Turn to Press Play
Now it's your turn to hear this movement for yourself, so press play and let the music carry you. As it unfolds, keep in mind what we've talked about: the cello leading, the orchestra listening and the four sections taking their turns. Don't try to catch everything on the first listen, because the music will still be there when you come back. I hope you find this Adagio as moving to hear as it was for me to write.---
I hope you enjoyed learning about the listen guide to the Adagio, the third movement of my Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85. In about 4 minutes 50 seconds this movement says a great deal, and I'm glad you spent them with me. There's still much more to discover in this concerto, from the way it came to be to the other three movements that surround this quiet one. The links here will take you further into the piece, so please click through whenever you feel like exploring. Then come back to the Adagio now and then, because I think it sounds a little different each time you hear it.