"Elegia" is an instrumental composed and performed by the English rock band New Order. It was released as the fifth track on their third studio album, Low-Life (1985). The track was written and produced by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner.
"Elegia" was written as a tribute to Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. The band had originally dissolved as a result of Curtis' suicide, after which the surviving members would later form New Order.
The song has appeared in several pieces of media, including Pretty in Pink, Stranger Things, The Crown, and Boots.
"Elegia" was originally written for a film commissioned by i-D magazine. The song was inspired by Ennio Morricone's For A Few Dollars More score. The film was never made, causing "Elegia" to be cut down for inclusion on Low-Life.
"Elegia" was recorded at CTS Studios in Wembley during a single 24-hour session, where it went under the working title "Ben and Justin". The song uses the E-mu Emulator II for several of its sounds, including its synth choir and strings.
The original recording of "Elegia" had a duration of 17:29, which was edited down to 4:56 for the album version on Low-Life. The full version was first featured on the 2002 5-CD box set Retro, which had become rare over time. It was also included on the 2008 Collector's Edition reissue of Low-Life. As a result, the song was reissued as a twelve-inch EP in 2012 through the record label Slow To Speak. This EP had two additional tracks: "5 8 6", as it was featured on the Peel Sessions compilation album, as well as the song "The Him", originally from New Order's debut studio album, Movement (1981); the latter track is also dedicated to Curtis. The full version of "Elegia" was once again featured on the Definitive Edition reissue of Low-Life in 2022.
Track listing adapted from the 2012 reissue.
Since the release of Low-Life in 1985, "Elegia" has been used in the following media productions: