Edward Elgar in 1904
The man who made it possible for millions to graduate from the school of their choice every year by composing Pomp and Circumstance, also had a mystery up his Victorian sleeve. After a full day of teaching, so the story goes, composer Edward Elgar daydreamed a melody at the piano. Alice, his wife, asked him to repeat it. So, to entertain her, Elgar improvised thirteen variations on the theme, each one a musical portrait of a friend, or the style of music that friend might have chosen themselves. Elgar subsequently expanded and orchestrated the originals and they became his famous "Enigma" Variations.
There are two puzzles that give the piece its name. First, is to guess to whom each variation refers(this has been solved to the satisfaction of most, and, no the Eleventh Variation is not Tony Randall); and the second, a deeper mystery, is that of the secret theme that underlies all the variations. Here is a bit of commentary by the composer on this deeper mystery:
"The enigma I will not explain - its 'dark saying' must be left unguessed, and I warn you that the apparent connection between the Variations and the Theme is often of the slightest texture; further, through and over the whole set another and larger theme 'goes', but is not played.... So the principal Theme never appears, even as in some late dramas ... the chief character is never on stage."
"Enigma" Variations was performed for the first time in London in 1899 by Hans Richter conducting the Hallé Orchestra.
A few Enigmatically related links:
Enigma Variations page on elgar.org.
Information on Patrick Turner's book, Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations, a Centenary Celebration
"Enigma" Variations' wikipedia page
Edward Elgar's wikipedia page
The Elgar Society and The Elgar Foundation
The NHK Symphony Orchestra will perform Elgar's "Enigma" Variations under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy, at Symphony Hall in Boston on October 20.
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