The Piano Quintet for piano and string quartet, composed by Edward Elgar, one of Britain's leading composers, in 1919.

By 1919, when this work was composed, Elgar was already over 60 years old. Having fallen ill amidst the intense hostilities of the First World War, Elgar, at the suggestion of his beloved wife Alice, decided to recuperate at Brinkwells in Sussex, a rural area of England, from 1918 to 1919.

Life at Brinkwells, away from the urban bustle and surrounded by lush greenery, seemed to suit Elgar. He consecutively composed three chamber works: the Violin Sonata, Op. 82; the String Quartet, Op. 83; and the Piano Quintet, Op. 84. All of these are masterpieces that adorn Elgar's late period. As if to confirm this, Elgar's wife Alice, who had been observing his compositional work closely, wrote in her diary, "Edward is writing lovely new music."

This work was dedicated to Ernest Newman, music critic for The Manchester Guardian, and premiered in London on May 21, 1919. The premiere performers included musicians whom Elgar held in high regard, such as Felix Salmond, who premiered Elgar's Cello Concerto, and Albert Sammons, who made the first complete recording of the Violin Concerto.

The premiere of the Piano Quintet was a success, and The Manchester Guardian lauded it as "a more lyrical and passionate, and an ideal example of chamber music, not inferior to a great oratorio (the status of oratorio in Britain at the time was comparable to that of opera in Italy)."

Let us now examine the work in detail.

This work consists of three movements, each lasting over ten minutes, making it the longest of Elgar's chamber works. This length is characteristic of Elgar, who had matured and gained profound insight after the age of 60.

First Movement: Moderato-Allegro, A minor, 2/4 time - 6/8 time.

The movement begins with a solemn atmosphere, as if reflecting the unsettling mood during the First World War. The score is marked "serioso." After an intervening chromatic passage, the music transitions into a 6/8 Allegro, where the unsettling mood gives way to a majestic and grand march-like theme. This powerful and valiant music is a quintessentially Elgarian passage. Following a brief four-bar transition, a Spanish-flavored theme emerges. While this might seem surprising given the image of works like Pomp and Circumstance or the Enigma Variations, Elgar had a "Spanish taste," which can also be found in works such as Moorish Serenade (note: 'Moor' refers to the Muslims who inhabited North Africa and Southern Spain) and the cantata The Black Knight. The music brightens as if the dark, cloud-covered atmosphere of the opening has miraculously cleared, and sunlight streams down. From a Spanish dance-like character, it progresses through a tempo, poco animato to gradually become more elegant.

However, upon returning to Moderato, the ominous atmosphere of the opening begins to reappear. Then, a melody reminiscent of a Gregorian chant, almost like a prayer, begins to flow. This likely embodies Elgar's fervent desire for peace while composing this work amidst the war. Motifs are developed in rapid succession, and the music builds in intensity. When this build-up reaches its climax, all previously introduced themes, such as the march-like and Spanish-flavored themes, are meticulously recapitulated. This movement is rich with numerous themes and abundant quintessentially Elgarian music.

Second Movement: Adagio, E minor, 3/4 time.

In stark contrast to the First Movement, which strongly reflects the dark shadow of war, the Second Movement is calm and tranquil. It evokes images of a peaceful English pastoral landscape, and one can sense Elgar's relaxed life during his recuperation at Brinkwells through the music.

The structure of this movement, unlike the First Movement where themes change rapidly and diverse musical ideas are introduced one after another, maintains a consistent tranquil character throughout.

At the time of this work's composition, nearly two decades had passed since the turn of the 20th century, and many new musical experiments, such as atonality, were emerging as a departure from Romanticism. Although this work is not written using avant-garde 20th-century techniques like atonal music or serial music, its meticulously crafted details are remarkably sophisticated, showcasing Elgar's outstanding compositional technique. It can be considered a culmination of Elgar's music after the age of 60.

Third Movement: Andante-Allegro, A minor, 2/4 time - 3/4 time.

It begins with a somewhat ominous yet romantic character, similar to the First Movement. As the time signature changes from 2/4 to 3/4, a theme emerges that is reminiscent of the trio section in marches like Pomp and Circumstance. This theme shines with the distinctiveness of Elgar, a leading British composer, brimming with dignity and exuding elegance, almost symbolizing the prosperity of the British Empire at its zenith.

However, this melody does not continue indefinitely; midway through, the music suddenly darkens, accompanied by string tremolos. This passage seems to foreshadow Britain's decline from its position as the world's leading nation—a status it had held since being the first to undergo the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century—as it was burdened with substantial war debts to the United States despite winning the First World War, ultimately losing its global supremacy.

For Elgar himself, his beloved wife Alice passed away the year after this work was completed, and he lost his creative drive due to the shock. Thus, this work can be said to represent the final brilliance of Elgar's peak period.

The Elgars were known as a devoted couple, and Elgar's wife, Caroline Alice Elgar, supported her husband throughout his life. It is said that the staves Elgar used for his scores were drawn by Alice with a ruler. Alice, originally Elgar's piano student, fell in love with him, but their marriage was strongly opposed by her parents because she was eight years older than Elgar and the daughter of a Major-General, a higher social standing than his. The couple defied their parents and married. The famous Salut d'Amour (Love's Greeting), which Elgar presented to Alice as a proposal, is widely known.