TheNursery Suite is one of the last compositions byEdward Elgar. Like Elgar'sThe Wand of Youth suites, it makes use of sketches from the composer's childhood.
There are seven movements and a coda:[1]
The composition of theNursery Suite came about when Elgar mentioned in September 1930 to William Laundon Streeton ofHis Master's Voice (the Gramophone Company) that he had lately run across a box of musical sketches from the days of his youth.[2] Streeton suggested that, asMaster of the King's Musick, he might suitably draw on them for a work to mark the recent birth ofPrincess Margaret Rose (then fourth in line to the throne).[3] The suite was dedicated to Princess Margaret, her older sister Princess Elizabeth (the futureQueen Elizabeth II) and their mother (theDuchess of York).[3]
Most of the movements appear light, in the style ofThe Wand of Youth suites, and predominantly sunny in character. Some commentators have made an exception of "The Waggon (Passes)": the Elgar authorityMichael Kennedy suggests that as the wagon (Elgar used the older spelling, 'waggon') rumbles towards us the music becomes sinister in a manner reminiscent of the bars in the Scherzo of theSecond Symphony, when, in Elgar's words, "the wheels go over my head".[3]Anthony Payne drew on the form of this movement for the ending of his elaboration of theThird Symphony sketches.[4]
TheNursery Suite was one of the first pieces of orchestral music to receive its premiere in a recording studio (Kingsway Hall, London) rather than a concert hall (although Elgar's very first recording session, in January 1914, had included the premiere of the miniature "Carissima").[5][6] At its premiere on 23 May 1931, all but the two last movements were recorded under the baton of the composer. The last two movements were added when the whole suite was performed on 4 June 1931 before an invited audience including Princess Elizabeth, aged five, and her parents. The piece takes about 25 minutes to perform.[1]
Reviewing the work when it first appeared, W. R. Anderson wrote inThe Gramophone: "The last movement, with its striking violin cadenza, seems especially significant. It hints at memories, which even in music are best hinted at, not explicitly stated: not because they hurt, but because youth can only understand them so. … There is the old fire here, with at least two movements out of the other six showing a freshness distinct from that of theWand of Youth … with the natural greatness of heart and spirit – something more than any genius can confer – that marks, and has marked through all his life, our beloved Edward Elgar."[7]
The ballet "Nursery Suite", with Elgar's music, choreography byNinette de Valois and scenery and costumes by Nancy Allen, was first performed by theVic-Wells Ballet (nowRoyal Ballet) on 19 March 1932 at theSadler's Wells Theatre. The cast includedAnton Dolin,Alicia Markova and Joy Newton.[8] The choreographerFrederick Ashton usedThe Nursery Suite for a new ballet (his last) in 1986 for the Queen's sixtieth birthday gala at theRoyal Opera House.[9]
It is scored for 2flutes, 2oboes, 2clarinets in B♭, 2bassoons, 4horns in F, 2trumpets (both in B♭ & C), 3trombones,tuba,timpani (3), 2percussionists (first withtriangle,tambourine andglockenspiel, second withsnare drum, triangle, tambourine,bass drum andcymbals) andstring section. Not all these instruments are played in all movements.
