The young Edward Elgar lived in Worcester and had the violin as the focus of his musical activity. Although he had been interested in composing since childhood, his early compositions received little exposure and did not show overwhelming promise. On the violin, however, his demonstrable skill was considerable, if unspectacular. He did not seriously consider pursuing a career as a soloist, but he found work as a teacher and an orchestral musician, including a period as concertmaster with the local Worcester Philharmonic. His acclaimed success as a composer would not come until much later, starting in 1899 with the large orchestral work known as the "Enigma" Variations. While few of his pieces before this date have maintained a place in the repertoire, the present Serenade is a gem of the late-Romantic literature for string orchestra. Elgar’s wealth of experience with the violin, and with string sound in general, reveals itself not only here but also in his other pieces for string orchestra, which include the brief works Elegy and Sospiri as well as the more substantial Introduction and Allegro.
Dissatisfied with what he felt was a plebeian existence as a free-lance violinist and teacher, Elgar moved to London in 1889 to make inroads as a composer. After two years, he was forced to admit defeat, relocating to the rather provincial setting of Malvern and returning to teaching in order to make ends meet. The Serenade, completed in 1892, was first performed by a small amateur group; it would be several years before he heard it realized by a professional ensemble. In spite of coming from a difficult period in the composer’s life, the Serenade is generally optimistic, even while being tinged with a clear sense of nostalgia. Particularly poignant is the second movement, which seems as though it must have been written with happier times in mind. It is tempting, therefore, to speculate that the work may have an earlier genesis. In 1886, Elgar met Caroline Alice Roberts, who would become his wife in 1889, accompany him shortly thereafter on the ill-fated trip to London, and continue to provide emotional support throughout the ups and downs of his career. Vague sketches of a three-movement piece for string orchestra date from 1888; and while little can be discerned from the surviving material, a fast-slow-fast plan for the three movements is evident. It is possible, then, that the Serenade is based on these sketches: that their inspiration was the blossoming love affair between the composer and his future wife, and that the changes in Elgar’s life during the intervening years account for the bittersweet wistfulness present throughout.