Composer

:

Edward Elgar

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Theme & Variations

Compose Date

:

1898 - 1899

Average_duration

:

30:27

Movement_count

:

15

Movement ....

Edward Elgar's 'Enigma Variations, Op. 36' is a set of fourteen variations for orchestra, composed in 1898-1899. The piece was premiered in London on June 19, 1899, conducted by the composer himself. The work is dedicated "to my friends pictured within", and each variation is a musical portrait of one of Elgar's close acquaintances. The first variation, "C.A.E.", is a tribute to Elgar's wife, Caroline Alice Elgar. It is a gentle and romantic piece, featuring a flowing melody in the strings. The second variation, "H.D.S.-P.", is a lively and playful piece, dedicated to Hew David Steuart-Powell, a friend of Elgar's who was known for his sense of humor. The third variation, "R.B.T.", is a somber and introspective piece, dedicated to Richard Baxter Townshend, a friend who had recently passed away. The fourth variation, "W.M.B.", is a boisterous and energetic piece, dedicated to William Meath Baker, a friend who was known for his love of hunting. The fifth variation, "R.P.A.", is a graceful and elegant piece, dedicated to Richard Penrose Arnold, a friend who was a pianist and composer. The sixth variation, "Ysobel", is a delicate and wistful piece, dedicated to Isabel Fitton, a viola player who was a member of Elgar's orchestra. The seventh variation, "Troyte", is a lively and rhythmic piece, dedicated to Arthur Troyte Griffith, a friend who was a landowner and amateur musician. The eighth variation, "W.N.", is a gentle and lyrical piece, dedicated to Winifred Norbury, a friend who was a cellist. The ninth variation, "Nimrod", is perhaps the most famous of the set. It is a powerful and emotional piece, dedicated to Augustus J. Jaeger, a friend who was a music publisher and critic. The variation is named after the biblical figure who was a "mighty hunter" and a "mighty one in the earth". The tenth variation, "Dorabella", is a light and playful piece, dedicated to Dora Penny, a friend who was a pianist and singer. The eleventh variation, "G.R.S.", is a lively and energetic piece, dedicated to George Robertson Sinclair, a friend who was an organist and composer. The twelfth variation, "B.G.N.", is a mysterious and enigmatic piece, dedicated to Basil G. Nevinson, a friend who was a writer and amateur musician. The thirteenth variation, "***", is a brief and humorous piece, dedicated to an unnamed friend who was known for his stutter. The final variation, "E.D.U.", is a grand and triumphant piece, dedicated to Elgar himself. It features a majestic melody in the brass and a soaring climax in the strings. Overall, 'Enigma Variations, Op. 36' is a masterful work of musical portraiture, showcasing Elgar's skill as a composer and his deep affection for his friends. The piece is notable for its variety of moods and styles, as well as its use of orchestral color and texture to create vivid musical portraits.

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