Elfin's Revels, Op. 80, is a musical fantasy built around a short narrative of frolicking gnomes and dancing fairies. In 1800s England, elves appeared widely in children's literature and illustration as playful, helpful spirits connected to nature and magic. The piece may have been inspired by The Elfin Revel, a poem by fellow Londoner John George Watts.
Catharina Josepha Pratten (1824–1895), also known as Madame Sidney Pratten, was a distinguished German guitarist, composer, and teacher who spent most of her career in England. Born to guitarist Ferdinand Pelzer, she began touring Europe at a young age, married flautist Robert Sidney Pratten in 1854, and established a successful guitar school in London. She composed approximately 250 works and gave regular concerts at Steinway Hall and in the homes of notable patrons. Princess Louise — whose mother was Queen Victoria — was a devoted pupil. Elfin's Revels was an audience favourite at Pratten's concerts.
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