Though only a minute and a half in duration, Edward Elgar's Civic Fanfare is more elaborate than many other examples of the fanfare repertory. Composed for the 1927 Hereford Festival, the Civic Fanfare was premiered under the direction of the composer. Though the score and parts were subsequently lost, the work was later reconstructed by Leslie Lake from a recording of the Hereford premiere. Elgar employs the instruments in the Civic Fanfare—brass, timpani, and percussion—in varying textures; he provides further contrast through the use of a wide dynamic spectrum.

© Eric Goldberg, All Music Guide