Sir Edward Elgar (1857—1934) was an English composer whose orchestral works are characterized by bold tunes, striking colour effects and mastery of large forms and stimulated by a renaissance of English music.

Elgar was an excellent violinist, played the bassoon and spent periods as a bandmaster and church organist. He had no formal training in composition, yet composed many famous beautiful choral pieces.

His most famous works include Pomp and Circumstance, Enigma Variations and the Dream of Gerontius. You most certainly would have listened to some of his music without knowing it was composed by him!