Elgar, Newman and the "Dream of Gerontius"

Elgar, Newman and the Dream of Gerontius is a scholarly analysis of one of the most significant works in the history of English music. This volume explores the deep connection between the oratorio and the tradition of English Catholicism. By examining the religious antecedents of Sir Edward William Elgar and the text written by John Henry Newman, the author provides a detailed study of how this piece reflects the spiritual and cultural landscape of the Catholic Church in Great Britain.

The text focuses on the historical struggle for emancipation and the role of music within the Catholic Embassy chapels of London during the 18th and 19th centuries. This work of music history and appreciation situates the creative careers of both Newman and Elgar within their religious context. It offers a professional examination of church music and the specific evolution of the oratorio genre.