The Crown of India Suite, Op. 66a – Sir Edward Elgar

The Crown of India Suite, Op. 66a by Sir Edward Elgar

In December of 1911, King George V and Queen Mary would visit the city of Delhi to receive their coronation as Emperor and Empress of India. This event was known as a “Delhi Durbar” and took place three times between 1877 and 1911. Sir Edward Elgar was asked to provide the accompanying music to a Masque held in 1912 to celebrate the coronation. The Masque contained two main scenes. The first representing the “Cities of Ind” and the second, “Ave Imperator!”, honouring the new Emperor and Empress.

The Masque was held in March of 1912 at the Coliseum Theatre in London. Elgar would conduct the orchestra for the Masque himself. The composer would later adapt sections of the incidental music for the Masque into a suite for orchestra titled the “Crown of India Suite”. The premiere performance of the suite was given in September of 1912 at the Hereford Festival.

The suite is comprised of six sections:
I. Introduction
II. Dance of Nautch Girls
III. Menuetto
IV. Warriors’ Dance
V. Intermezzo
VI. March of the Mogul Emperors