Edward Elgar is perhaps England's most popular composer, and has plenty of awesome music to back up that title.
- The theme from the Enigma Variations forms the basis of "Clubbed to Death" as featured in The Matrix.note Nimrod
, a movement from the Variations, is achingly beautiful and has been used in many moving moments in film and TV, as well as being played by British military bands at services on Remembrance Day. - The Cello Concerto in E minor is a solid block of awesomeness, but particularly the first movement as played by Jacqueline du Pré: a quiet beginning, rising to incredible heights, and back down again.
- The Violin Concerto may be overshadowed by the Cello Concerto, but it is still 55 minutes of awesome. All three movements are positively overflowing with melodic goodness, and the violinist's extended time in the spotlight in the second half of the finale is an awesome moment for any soloist up to the challenge.
- Symphony No.1 in A-flat major's opening is superb. It begins with muted timpani, and then branches into a glorious, stately theme, played pianissimo at first, but it starts increasing in volume, and then it gets taken up by the full orchestra, played fortissimo. The effect is glorious.
- The Pomp and Circumstance Marches rank as some of the most stirring music ever composed by an Englishman. No.1 in D major is by far the most famous, having become a staple of graduation ceremonies across the pond (a tradition which began when Yale University presented Elgar with an honorary doctorate in 1905), a fixture of the Last Night of the Proms (in its vocal arrangement as "Land of Hope and Glory"), and a regular chorus in the stands at sporting events in Elgar's homeland. Almost as awesome is No.4 in G major, which, like No.1, alternates an uptempo march with a hymn-like melody that swells with majesty when it returns near the end.
