Melody in E-flat

Sir Edward German (17 February 1862 – 11 November 1936) was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera.

As a youth, German played the violin and led the town orchestra of Whitchurch, Shropshire. He also began to compose music. While performing and teaching violin at the Royal Academy of Music, German began to build a career as a composer in the mid-1880s, writing serious music as well as light opera. In 1888, he became music director of Globe Theatre in London. He provided popular incidental music for many productions at the Globe and other London theatres. He also wrote symphonies, orchestral suites, symphonic poems and other works. He also wrote a considerable body of songs, piano music, and symphonic suites and other concert music, of which his Welsh Rhapsody is perhaps best known.

He was knighted in 1928.

The music scholar David Russell Hulme wrote of German that French influences are clearly apparent in his music "and there are even occasional reminders of Tchaikovsky, but paradoxically he was, like Elgar, a stylistic cosmopolitan who wrote music that is quintessentially English."

"Melody in E-flat" was originally published by Edwin Ashdown, Ltd. in 1895 as a piano solo. This arrangement comes from an Ashdown album, but I'm not sure as to the arranger. I will update this if/when I get the information.

This piece could prove to be very useful as a church prelude or interlude, or as a quiet recital piece. The lovely lines and harmonies are a delight, and I was anxious to share it.

I wouldn't call me performance "fussy," but you could do it even more simply than I've done it here. The "English pastorale" effect is ever present, and you don't want to let it drag!

The score, courtesy of Dr. John Henderson, is attached below, as well as several photos of Edward German, including one of his signature.