SIMON Mundy's revised edition of Elgar, in the series The Illustrated Lives of the Great Composers, published in 1980 by Omnibus Press, was launched in the Carice Elgar Room, Broadheath on Tuesday. By coincidence Carice Elgar would have celebrated her 111th birthday on that day.

Mr Mundy spoke of his reasons for the revision: previous to 1980 there had been less access to information. Today Elgar is regarded much more as a major composer and coverage is of higher importance. Mundy believes that his new edition, 100 pages longer, is much better than the one of his ignorant youth!

Also, a special exhibition was opened to recognise the centenary of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches Nos 1 and 2, of which the highlight is the full manuscript score of the first - wherein the well-known tune for the words of Land of Hope and Glory is found - on loan from the British Library. Together with other artefacts, this exhibition will remain on show until the end of October.

David Owen Norris provided a prodigious interlude with Elgar's Improvisations Nos 2 and 5 for piano. With exquisite lingering melodies and Elgarian harmonies these sensuously romantic pieces were an exceptional pleasure, performed for us with profoundly expressive sensitivity and a penetrating insight.

In 1929 Elgar recorded them 'live' and Mr Owen Norris has learnt them 'by ear', no manuscripts exist. In March he will be releasing the complete Improvisa-tions on CD (Nimbus).

JILL HOPKINS