 But it was as singer of English art-song, and the friend of many leading English composers, that Elwes left his most permanent legacy.He was the dedicatee and first performer of (and the first person to record) Ralph Vaughan Williams song cycle "On Wenlock Edge" and many of the finest songs of Roger Quilter (including the cycle "To Julia"), both of whom wrote with his voice in mind.In 1912 he gave the first performance of Thomas Dunhill's song-cycle "The Wind Among the Reeds" for the Philharmonic Society.