The Apostles (Elgar) many delays, Elgar finally started formal composition of the music in mid-December 1902. Composition of the work in vocal-score format was complete by the end of June 1903, with scoring complete on 17 August. "The Apostles "is a narrative work, dealing with the calling of the Apostles and their experiences of Jesus' preaching, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. "The Kingdom" would carry the story onward. Elgar was more interested in human motivations than philosophical underpinnings, and two of the most prominent characters in the work are the two sinners Mary Magdalene and Judas Iscariot. Elgar's conception outgrew the confines of
Keys of the kingdom who spoke / preached to the disciples. Here we see Peter act on the commission given to him by Christ in Matthew 16; Afterwards, Peter speaks a message explaining the completion of several prophecies, concluding with; Keys of the kingdom The keys of the kingdom is a Christian concept of eternal church authority. It was established in the 1st century AD, initially through St. Peter, then through the rest of the 12 Apostles. The latter, continuing with the early Church Fathers, would eventually comprise the early church and its doctrine. It is this authority, having been given the "keys", that