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Sir Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) was an English classical composer best known for his Enigma Variations and I have chosen 'Nimrod' from them as my favourite.
The variations are each about Elgars friends and 'Nimrod' was Augustus Jaeger who was his music publisher. Jaeger is German for 'Hunter' which is how the Bible describes Nimrod. The track below is by the London Symphony Orchestra which begins very quietly and builds up to a crescendo.
My other favourite is his Cello concerto in E Minor. The link is to an old film of Jacqueline du Pre with Daniel Barenboim conducting. Du Pre is renowned for her interpretation of this concerto and was married to Barenboim but tragically died of multiple sclerosis at the age of 42.
I suppose today his most well known works are the Pomp and Circustance marches which are played every year at the last night of the BBC Proms.
Elgar live in and around the Malvern Hills, a particularly beautiful part of Worcestershire and I like to think that his music refelects that scenery where he spent most of his life.
Elgar's discography can be found here.