Elgar Salut d'amour Op. 12 Violin and String Orchestra

Elgar: Salut d'Amour Op. 12 for Violin and String Orchestra

Elgar's Salut d'Amour, Op. 12 is one of the most immediately recognisable pieces in the English string repertoire: a short, warmly expressive melody he wrote as a love token for his future wife, and a concert and encore favourite ever since. This arrangement sets it for solo violin and string orchestra.

Like the Paradis Sicilienne, this is a piece where the left hand is not the primary challenge. The key of E major gives the violin a bright, resonant quality, with the open strings ringing sympathetically throughout; intonation needs care, but the positions are familiar at Grade 7. There are a couple of moments where the melody rises to the higher reaches of the E string, and those passages ask for a secure left-hand frame and the bow control to maintain a singing, even tone at height. The real work, again as with the Sicilienne, is in the bow arm: varying speed and weight to shape each phrase with genuine warmth and direction, rather than playing the melody at an even, undifferentiated pressure. Elgar's harmonic language is rich enough to reward a player who listens carefully to the accompaniment and responds to it, and the musical character of the piece, tender rather than demonstrative, is something a Grade 7 student will need to think about as a distinct expressive goal.

The string orchestra provides a warm harmonic support throughout. The parts are accessible for an intermediate ensemble and give the players genuine musical involvement rather than simply providing a backdrop.

At three minutes, Salut d'Amour fits naturally into almost any concert context. Its immediate audience appeal makes it one of the more reliable choices in this repertoire for school concerts, youth orchestra events, and more formal occasions alike.

See and hear the difference

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin + String Orchestra (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
• Difficulty: ABRSM Grade 7 (solo); Intermediate (ensemble)
• Duration: approximately 3 minutes
• Orchestration: string orchestra accompaniment based on Elgar's original
• Format: PDF download, full score and all parts

Who it's for

This is a practical and reliable choice for school concerts, youth orchestra events, and formal occasions where a well-loved, expressive solo piece is needed without a heavy rehearsal commitment. It also suits Grade 7 students who are working on tone production and melodic shaping, where the familiarity of the melody gives them a clear musical character to aim for.