Скачать или смотреть Edward Elgar Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36, “Enigma”

“This work, commenced in a spirit of humour & continued in deep seriousness, contains sketches of the
composer's friends. It may be understood that these personages comment or reflect on the original theme & each
one attempts a solution of the Enigma, for so the theme is called. The sketches are not 'portraits' but each
variation contains a distinct idea founded on some particular personality or perhaps on some incident known
only to two people. This is the basis of the composition, but the work may be listened to as a 'piece of music'
apart from any extraneous consideration.” E. Elgar

Here are the movements with the corresponding friends’ initials, nicknames, and personalities:
Variation 1 - CAE Caroline Alice Elgar, the composer's wife.
Variation 2 - HDSP Hew David Steuart-Powell and Elgar played chamber music together. When he first sat at
the piano Steuart-Powell played an unusual chromatic figure to warm up.
Variation 3 - RBT Richard Baxter Townshend was an eccentric author, scholar and friend of the composer. The form is extended from the basic ABA of the Theme and first two variations to ABABA.
Variation 4 - WMB This variation is dedicated to William Meath Baker who had recently acquired Hasfield
Court. The boisterous and energetic movement reflects Elgar's memory of a visit to Hasfield Court in which the
host ran around charging in and out of various rooms, issuing instructions and banging doors with little regard
for guests.
Variation 5 - RPA This variation for Richard Penrose Arnold returns to ABABA form. The connection
between the music and its dedicatee is less apparent. It has been suggested that its meandering string lines
reflect Elgar's view that Richard Arnold had somewhat wasted his life. The contrast of gravity and lightness
suggests the two sides to his personality. Elgar left us only with the commentary that it is "whimsical and
witty".
Variation 6 - Ysobel Isabel Fitton was an amateur violist who assisted Elgar with the proof reading of a
number of his scores. Elgar gently pokes fun at her inability to successfully and elegantly cross strings and
perform large leaps. The form is ABABA with the final A section shortened.
Variation 7 - Troyte The exuberance of this variation is for Arthur Troyte Griffith, an architect and life-long
friend. Theme A is reduced to 2 notes in timpani, cello and basses while a variant of Theme B makes up the
principal melodic idea. Rushing scales previously heard in Variation 4 add to its exuberance. The form is
ABABA with the final A section shortened. While many theories have been advanced about the relationship of
this variation to its dedicatee, Elgar's own explanation describes the reduction of Theme A to 2 notes on timpani
as imitating Troyte's "maladroit attempts to play the piano".
Variation 8 - WN Elgar stated that this elegant variation for Winifred Norbury was a picture of her peaceful
and stately eighteenth century home. Both Theme A and Theme B are given new and elegant treatments.
Variation 9 - Nimrod August Johannes Jaeger was Elgar's trusted friend and music publisher at Novello & Co.
Jaeger is the German word for hunter and Nimrod was a great hunter in the Bible, hence the title. This is the
most famous section of the work, based entirely on Theme A with altered intervals to accommodate its
grandiose style and key of E flat major. At each repetition the theme is expanded in length and orchestration
until it grows to a climax. It reflects Elgar's great trust in his friend and publisher.
Variation 10 - Dorabella Dora Penny was a friend whose stammer Elgar affectionately imitates in the
woodwind figure that answers the short shimmer from the strings.
Variation 11 – GRS This variation is not intended to depict George Robertson Sinclair but rather his British
Bulldog named Dan. Themes A and B are freely combined throughout.
Variation 12 – BGN Basil Nevinson was an amateur cellist who played chamber music with Steuart-Powerll
(Variation 1) and Elgar. Accordingly this variation is based on a beautiful solo cello version of Theme A.
Variation 13 - Romanza *** Elgar did not reveal the name or initials of this person behind this variation. He
named it Romanza followed by three asterisks. There have been several attempts to resolve the mystery. The
fact that the section includes a quote from Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage suggests a lost love
who played clarinet and emigrated overseas.
Variation 14 - Finale EDU Edu was Alice Elgar's nickname for her husband. This movement is the most
extensive and re-uses themes from the variations of the two people who had the greatest influence on Elgar and
meant the most to him, his wife Alice (Variation 1) and August Jaeger (Variation 9). Their themes dominate this
variation.