Edward Elgar

Origin of Praise of Love Elgar completed the score while traveling in July 1888. At that time, he had already married Caroline Alice Roberts. got engaged. Since Alice was proficient in German, he named the piece "Liebesgruss" (Love's Greeting) and the inscription was "Carice" in French. ?Carice? is the initials of his fiancée and the name of their daughter born two years later.

After returning to his home in London from friends in Craven on September 22, he presented the song to Alice as part of their engagement ceremony. Alice responded with a poem she had written several years earlier called "The Wind at Dawn," for which Elgar quickly composed music.

A year later, Schott Music Publishing Co., Ltd. of Germany bought the copyright of "Hymn to Love" and published it in four versions: violin and piano, piano solo, cello and piano, and orchestral arrangement. However, Sales are not ideal. So the publisher changed the title of the song to "Salut d'Amour". Elgar later realized that the French title was not only applicable to France, but also helped the work gain recognition in other European countries.

On November 11, 1889, this piece was premiered as a symphony at a concert at the Crystal Palace, conducted by August Manns.