Composed in 1932 for a brass band, the Elegy is the second movement of John Ireland’s Downland Suite. The suite is a musical depiction of Sussex Downs, an area in Sussex that is part of South Down National Park.
In my opinion, the Elegy sounds like it could have been written by Elgar and there is range of emotion in this piece. At various points, this music is contemplative, mournful, and hopeful.
Although originally composed for brass band, it has been arranged for a string orchestra and this is what I had in mind when determining my registration. For example, at
1:29, when the melody is played in the tenor, I used the Solo Strings along with the Great Open Diapasons to imitate a Cello. As an aside, I think the 2nd Open Diapason on the Great is one of the most versatile stops on the Salisbury Cathedral Organ. At the end I use it along with the Choir and Great 8ft flutes to imitate a French Horn.
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