THE Queen's Hall in London was the venue a century ago for the first performance of Sir Edward Elgar's concert overture Cockaigne (In London Town), conducted by the composer.

The work was composed between October, 1900 and March 23, 1901, when Elgar was living in Malvern at Craeglea, 86 Wells Road.

Elgar himself described Cockaigne as "cheerful and Londony, stout and steaky", while his biographer Michael Kennedy calls it "one of his cheeriest orchestral works".

The piece depicts a pair of lovers strolling through London, going into a park, hearing a military band, and going into a church where an organ is playing.

And the Elgar Birthplace Museum, at Lower Broadheath, has a special display devoted to the work's centenary.

On display are the concert programmes for the premiere and for another performance a few months later in Manchester, as well as the original art work for the published score, with its bold black and white drawings of London scenes.

Also on show is Elgar's so-called "moral coda to Cockaigne" a humorous note to a friend, responding to a fictitious complaint from a "Mrs Barnet" who thought their lovers' stroll was not "strictly proper".

Elgar's cartoon drawing shows the imaginary Mrs Barnet looking disapprovingly through her lorgnette.

The museum also contains numerous other items relating to Elgar's music and life, including his golf clubs, books and cycling maps.