Someone pointed that out to me a few months back, but I don't listen to Elgar, so I can't verify it. I just know it isn't 'Pomp and Circumstance'.

I'd say that it's reminiscent of Elgar's style. Other composers of that time who wrote in a similar style would be Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams. All three were English, and inspired by old Celtic tunes, and that theme has that kind of flavor to my ear.

Heh. I pointed out to gamesas's PR department when Morrowind came out how much the main theme reminded me of Elgar, and they were surprised--said it was supposed to take after Celtic folk. True, but Elgar's ih the mix. I find similarlities to portions of the composer's Enigma Variations (especially the variation meant to indicate himself), the Overture "In the South," and Cockaigne. Each to their own.

Doesn't sound like any specific work of Elgar's that I can think of. But I can certainly see the British folk influence in it, and someone just mentioned Ralph Vaughan-Williams - that's who it sounds a bit more like to me. Parts of it definitely have more of mid-late 20th century influences, though, along with the bits that come from being background music rather than something meant purely to be directly listened to.

I was just thinking: the tune around 3:40, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pywkwAoENBY

...reminds me very much of Arnold Bax's score to the 1948 film of Oliver Twist. There's a wash of Impressionistic harmonies, a simple, innocent tune beneath it all, a solid rhythm, a strong theme. It's a generic resemblance, not specific, but I think Bax is heavily in the mix at that point, just as the use of the so-called Scottish Snap in the opening music points to a generic influence of Scottish folk music.