The personality and emotional scope of Elgar's music can range from deeply personal to extroverted and decidedly "public." In Crown of India (1911 - 12), the spirit clearly runs toward the latter end of this spectrum, and today it is perhaps difficult today to take the work as seriously as did the Edwardian audiences for which it was written. This "imperial masque," written to accompany a London theater production marking a royal visit to India, features suitably picturesque British subjects participating in displays of ethnic dancing and singing. Elgar extracted a six-movement orchestral suite from the masque that captures its spirit of festive patriotism. The Menuetto and Intermezzo are marked by a particular grace, while the work comes to a stirring conclusion with an exocitally tinged "March of the Mogul Emperors."

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