Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- - Composer: Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 -- 23 February 1934)
- Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor: Andrew Litton
- Year of recording: 1987
Enigma Variations, for orchestra, Op. 36, written in 1898-1899.
00:00 - Theme (Andante)
01:26 - Variation I (L'istesso tempo) "C.A.E."
03:22 - Variation II (Allegro) "H.D.S.-P."
04:06 - Variation III (Allegretto) "R.B.T."
05:27 - Variation IV (Allegro di molto) "W.M.B."
05:58 - Variation V (Moderato) "R.P.A."
08:08 - Variation VI (Andantino) "Ysobel"
09:34 - Variation VII (Presto) "Troyte"
10:31 - Variation VIII (Allegretto) "W.N."
12:26 - Variation IX (Adagio) "Nimrod"
16:14 - Variation X (Intermezzo: Allegretto) "Dorabella"
18:56 - Variation XI (Allegro di molto) "G.R.S."
19:56 - Variation XII (Andante) "B.G.N."
22:30 - Variation XIII (Romanza: Moderato) "* * *"
25:26 - Variation XIV (Finale: Allegro Presto) "E.D.U."
At the end of an overlong day laden with teaching and other duties, Edward Elgar lit a cigar, sat at his piano and began idling over the keys. To amuse his wife, the composer began to improvise a tune and played it several times, turning each reprise into a caricature of the way one of their friends might have played it or of their personal characteristics. "I believe that you are doing something which has never been done before," exclaimed Mrs. Elgar. Thus was born one of music's great works of original conception, and Elgar's greatest large-scale "hit": the Enigma Variations. The enigma is twofold: each of the 14 variations refers to a friend of Elgar's, who is depicted by the nature of the music, or by sonic imitation of laughs, vocal inflections, or quirks, or by more abstract allusions. The other enigma is the presence of a larger "unheard" theme which is never stated but which according to the composer is very well known. The identity of the phantom tune left the world with the composer, and guesses have ranged from "God Save the King", "Ein Feste Burg" and "Auld Lang Syne" to a simple major scale.
This apparatus aside, the variations contain some of the most charming and deeply felt music Elgar ever penned, more than redeeming the work from the status of mere gimmickry. The main theme is hesitating, lean and haunting, and is reprised with the passionate first variation that represents Caroline, the composer's wife, a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. The remaining variations are as follows:
- II. H.D.S.-P. -- Hew Stuart-Powell, a pianist with whom Elgar played chamber music.
- III. R.B.T. -- Richard Townsend, whose vocal pitch would rise when excited.
- IV. W.M.B. -- William Baker, who after barking out plans for the day would leave the room with a vigorous door-slam
- V. R.P.A. -- Richard Arnold, son of the writer Matthew Arnold, who would punctuate serious discourse with a nervous laugh.
- VI. Isobel Fitton, a violist.
- VII. Troyte -- Arthur Griffith, an architect and raucous pianist.
- VIII. W.N. -- Winifred Norbury, a gracious and gentle friend.
- IX. Nimrod -- Augustus Jaeger, Elgar's close friend. The most beautiful and famous of the variations, this music describes a nighttime walk when Jaeger gave verbal encouragement to composer, recalling Beethoven's determination in adversity. "Jaeger" means "hunter in German, and Nimrod was a biblical hunter.
- X. Dorabella -- Dora Penny, whose infectious laugh is depicted in the woodwinds.
- XI. G.R.S. -- George Sinclair, an organist depicted frolicking with his bulldog, Dan.
- XII. B.G.N. -- Basil Nevinson, a cellist.
- XIII. *** -- The identity of this person is not known, but she is thought to have been on an ocean voyage at the time -- this divined from a quote from Mendelssohn's "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage."
- XIV. E.D.U. -- Elgar himself. "Edu" was Caroline's nickname for her husband. This heartily extroverted, even boisterous, finale ties together the first variation and the Nimrod themes, as though to suggest that the composer has taken advice to heart and is determined to succeed. The entry of an organ in the final measures brings the work to a confident, happy close.
More information on Elgar's "Dorabella Cipher" and the 'unheard' theme in the Enigma Variations: nautil.us/issue/6/secret-codes... 
Видеоклипы
I like how Variation 8 is like, kind of normal, making you think that it's the end of a segment, and then it just transitions to the epic piece that is Nimrod like it's nothing, revealing _it_ to be the actual end to the first half.
One of those masterpieces where you feel there is not a single note out of place. Elgar was a superb orchestrator too, whose intimate knowledge of each instrument was informed by his ability to play them all. And all this was self-taught!
Here's a chance to push a couple of other Elgar top 40 (well, maybe three). I find his First Symphony more and more satisfying on repeated hearings. And a small gem of his is "The Snow," song for female chorus--set to a poem by the composer's wife...and she's a whole other story.
00:00 - Theme (Andante)
01:26 - Variation I (L'istesso tempo) "C.A.E."
03:22 - Variation II (Allegro) "H.D.S.-P."
04:06 - Variation III (Allegretto) "R.B.T."
05:27 - Variation IV (Allegro di molto) "W.M.B."
05:58 - Variation V (Moderato) "R.P.A."
08:08 - Variation VI (Andantino) "Ysobel"
09:34 - Variation VII (Presto) "Troyte"
10:31 - Variation VIII (Allegretto) "W.N."
12:26 - Variation IX (Adagio) "Nimrod"
16:14 - Variation X (Intermezzo: Allegretto) "Dorabella"
18:56 - Variation XI (Allegro di molto) "G.R.S."
19:56 - Variation XII (Andante) "B.G.N."
22:30 - Variation XIII (Romanza: Moderato) "* * *"
25:26 - Variation XIV (Finale: Allegro Presto) "E.D.U."
(Copied & pasted from description for easier access)
Thx
Always loved the Enigma Variations (ever since hearing them on my Dad's collection of eight separate 78 rpm records). Where else can you hear the devotion of a husband and wife, a man with a rather pompous way of speaking, a dog cavorting in the river, a trusted friend, a dainty little girl and a society lady on board ship (to mention but some), all within 30 minutes?
im playing nimrod in orchestra right now and it gives me insane chills every time i play or listen to it. ive fallen in absolute love with this piece.
Guess who else is?
I have played Nimrod at Orchestra on the viola and it always reduces me to tears with the heart on sleeve style that suits me. In Eb major, my favourite flat key, with major sixths everywhere. Early on in the piece, there is a run of consecutive major sixths. Elgar was a genius. Absolute bliss!
@@angelacooper2661 hmm... as a budding composer/arranger, good to know!
Luckily for me Elgar lived but a few minutes walk from my house in Worcester. I got to touch the very piano keys that helped Elgar give birth to such wonderful music. Went to see the Dreams of Gerontius a couple weeks ago at Worcester Cathedral. Such a profound experience for me. Thank you Elgar, wherever you now are.
They didn't even teach us about him at school, ah all the high culture and beauty that is being deprived of us, that many of us live in ignorance of, and often it's right on our doorstep.
Hope you're still listening to Nimrod Sage :))
Honestly a true masterpiece with so much story to tell even without words. Absolutely beautiful :') my little cousin told me to listen to this cause he is one of her favorite composers of all time. Absolutely fucking beautiful
I came here for the 1/1 time signature in VII.
Trrrrrrrmmmrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.mmm mmmnmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.mmmnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...hmmm.m.mm.mmm.m..hmmm.rrmmm.rmmrmrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..mmm.nm.m.m.......m.mmm.....mmm.m.mm.mmm..m.mmmmmnm..m.........rrm.......rrrrrrrrr..................................................................................n.................................
Sadly, I was one of those people who was dismissive of Elgar for no other reason than he wrote the cheesy graduation march. Missed out for 25 years. This guy was amazing!
Same here. Always hated Pomp and Circumstance. Elgar is wonderful though. His Serenade for Strings is even better.
Same
@@charlietian2074 Elgar apparently absolutely hated what they did to the slow part of his Pomp & Circumstance #1.
@@TheMarcHicks Yes, he grew to hate the work.
Well said
Here straight from twoset and I’m hitting up Tchaikovsky’s 6th right after this
haha same
Do you believe in 9th curse btw?
Same 😂✋
Hahaha😂😅
@@authenticmusic4815 still not sure.....that's why I'm researching a bit...
As soon as Ysobel hits I get incredibly calm, happy and optimistic, I don't know why!
I am here to listen to the "hidden theme."
Bach is a Genius same here lol
@Bach is a Genius lmao same
Let me know when you find it.
Leave it a mystery.
There are many theories on the hidden theme of the Enigma. If you'd like to check out mine, try www.sdmarlowmusic.net/enigma
The 6 conditions of the hidden theme:
1. The enigma theme is a counterpoint to the principal theme
2. The principal theme is not heard
3. The principal theme is famous
4. Fragments of the principal theme are present in the variations
5. The principal theme is a melody that can be played through and over the whole set of variations including the entire enigma theme
6. The enigma theme comprises measures 1 through 9
I think the 'theme' is part musical and part conceptual - please see www.sdmarlowmusic.net/enigma
I don't think he ever said that it had anything to do with counterpoint, it makes much more sense that it is Rule Britannia. ruclips.net/video/vvISlBZxvCk/видео.html
you mean like nine measures?
Only slight correction, principal theme is not known necessarily to be a melody, and Elgar simply said that it "goes" throughout and over the whole set, while he himself put quotation marks around the word. And, the enigma is actually only the first six bars.
Its a delight to be able to see and follow the score for Nimrod, for once; to see how it moves so gracefully, yet powerfully. This movement is one of my most favorite pieces of music.
It never ceases to amaze me how people dont understand this, how they cant appreciate how gorgeous music can be! You barely need to Listen! There is so so much going on the composer is writing his life out for us on paper and its beautiful.
thanks for the follow-along sheet music. This is worth a hundred music classes.
0:05 (Engima) 1:27 I (C.A.E.) 3:22 II (H.D.S.P) 4:06 III (R.B.T.) 5:27 IV (W.M.B.) 5:58 V (R.P.A.) 8:08 VI (Ysobel) 9:34 VII (Troyte) 10:31 VIII (W.N.) 12:26 IX (Nimrod) 16:14 X (Dorabella) 18:56 XI (G.R.S.) 19:56 XII (B.G.N.) 22:30 XIII (Romanza) 25:27 XIV (E.D.U. - Finale)
thank you, grumpy old man!
@@UCrafter5000 poor Churchill.
0:05 (Engima)
1:27 I (C.A.E.)
3:22 II (H.D.S.P)
4:06 III (R.B.T.)
5:27 IV (W.M.B.)
5:58 V (R.P.A.)
8:08 VI (Ysobel)
9:34 VII (Troyte)
10:31 VIII (W.N.)
12:26 IX (Nimrod)
16:14 X (Dorabella)
18:56 XI (G.R.S.)
19:56 XII (B.G.N.)
22:30 XIII (Romanza)
25:27 XIV (E.D.U. - Finale)
Thank you for making this video, one can always hear more when one sees the music.
+Vacaiable Yes, that is exactly the reason I make these videos!
One of the things that actually always amazes me when I finally see the score to some famous piece of music I've heard a thousand times before is how remarkably SIMPLE the written notes look COMPARED to the complexity of the sounds I hear. It's almost as if I were "disappointed" (not really, of course) to see the written music as being a "letdown" compared to what I hear. Then that discrepancy amazes me even more,
because obviously the composers knew what they were doing when they composed. They felt no need to add superfluous notes "just to make the music sound more complicated".
Perhaps you see the opposite: perhaps you see the written scores of classical & romantic pieces as looking MORE complex than the music they produce.
That's true, unless you read Bach
It is nice to know the score.
hear
May God have mercy on my soul, Sir Edward Elgar knocked a hole in one on a par 5 with this stunning work of inspired super genius.
This is brilliant! I thank you for your hard work because I love following scored! :)
Great work. Elgar is always my favorite composer.
What a gorgeous interpretation! I also appreciate all the very helpful notes on the work. Thank-you so much! I will treasure this. Blessings upon you and yours. jls
Toda mi admiración para Sir Edward Elgar, un verdadero genio contemporáneo. Inspirador.
This is truly fantastic, such majesty and magic in this work :D ! It really is awesome !
Хорошую музыку он написал к фильму "Матрица". Вот это талантище.
Absolutely magnificent from start to finish.
If you really want to know, the enigmatic answer is: "sing a song of sixpence... four and twenty blackbirds". A full explanation would require several pages, but you can see the numbers in the enigma score (6 bars and 24 notes). Elgar was an excellent cryptographer as well as a brilliant composer.
What about pergolesi stabat mater?
Where can I find a thorough explanation?
You learn something new every day. Thanks for this tid-bit...
Such a good idea having a piano score to follow rather than struggle with the full orchestra score
Tremendously moving to follow along (should one read music) and watch the theme and its variations come to life. This is not a long work--but one does not need length to have gone on a emotional journey (the best music nearly always take us on one)--and one certainly does with Elgar with its plangent, poignant theme and the portraits within. My favorite by far is the moving first variation of his wife--its like looking in a man's soul and his feelings for his loved one...All this makes a 'classic' work of course, in the best sense of the word. Wonderful.
I agree, thank you so much for your comment!
Goodness, I have so come to love that piece over the last few months! And on top of this, I could hear it live last week during a concert in Stuttgart, which was an amazing experience. I'd love to have such friends as well that "sound" so beautiful...
Credits of course also to our dear olla-vogala.
el guitablo hi so nice to see your comment, I am from Stuttgart but sadly I didnt recognized that there was a concert with this piece. Can you tell me wich orchestra it was?
It was the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, they played the concert on December 19 last year in the Liederhalle. The program was rather delicate: John Adams' "The chairman dances", Bruch's violin concerto and, as said, Elgar's set of variations. Bringing those pieces together seemed quite strange to me and I only ordered ticktets to have the opportunity to hear Elgar. But when I sat in there and heard those pieces in a row, I felt the combination makes perfectly sense and for a very exquisite effect, although I can in no way explain why... I can only recommend listening to those pieces in that order!
omg i listen to this on loop its so good
Spectacular!
I've always loved the 10th variation after the 9th. What could follow Nimrod? Elgar found a perfect answer.
Thanks for this upload.
+Charles McHugh You're welcome Charles! The whole Enigma Variations is a high point in Elgar's oeuvre I think.
Along with the Violin Concerto, which Hilary Hahn does to spectacular effect, to be found elsewhere on RUclips
I don't particularly appreciate his violin concerto but IMO his work "In the South" is possibly the finest orchestral overture ever written - absolutely amazing and Elgar's orchestration at it's best! Interestingly the best performance I've ever heard was with the Polish National Radio Orchestra (can't remember the conductor's name however!) - who said English music doesn't travel well?
I think it was conducted by Łukasz Borowicz. And I agree "In the South" is brilliant.
And the most moving moment for me will always be the drastic flip between 8 and 9. The first time I heard this I didn’t even realize what was happening in the symphony hall...the lighthearted tone of the 8th then that sustained G that takes us from there to the most emotionally stirring 2 minutes of my life through Nimrod. There are better compositions out there but I don’t think I’ve found a more powerful moment
So beautiful!
Elgar was an expert cryptographer. The answer to the thematic mystery of Enigma is: "Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye/Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie". A well-known popular tune/song.6 & 24 are the digits in a special cipher number. Six bars and twenty-four notes in the Enigma section at the start. The dark saying alluded to by Elgar is "et in Arcadia ego" - meaning death is inescapable - which is part of the same code using the digits 6 & 24.
Your comment sent me reading. Your suggestion is supported but so are many others, such as inclusion of the number pi itself and much besides. I’d be delighted for you to expand your thinking.
There is a hidden message in the music. where do you have this information from
@@stefanraeuber7032 Hi. The information comes from a cipher system that Elgar seems to have known (he was interested in cryptograms). The cipher was invented during the Tudor era and has been used by a number of famous people, notably writers. Elgar alluded to a bigger mystery beyond the missing tune - the cipher system itself. The number of notes and the number of bars in the 'enigma' section appear in the nursery rhyme and are the digits of a key code number used in the cipher (246). Sing a song of six pence... four and twenty blackbirds ...The only popular tune at the time c 1900 having those numbers. Hundreds of code solutions indicate that Elgar was aware of the cipher system and that the nursery rhyme is the correct solution - but I cannot explain all that here.
@@zyltch1 but such an answer wouldn't go unnoticed so simply, and since it isn't acknowledged as a definite answer then there has to be more to it. You can't convince me that modern era people are dumb enough to have missed the answer they were looking for,because there are the intelligents that always seem to find a way to prove themselves
It really sticks out in 13 - @5:41
This is true MASTERPIECE 👌👍⭐️
Creative expression.
Positive Foundation!
The Author
I love this music he is so talented!!
I like it.Thank you.
Just awesome :)
Awesome...
Played this for the school orchestra, it was fun
I have this for district auditions and I've been looking for something to look at the music to go along with. Thank you!!
Small Dreams mass western district?
Michael Hu I don't think so.
... beautiful..
The organ in the last mov. Is so fucking perfect
Elgar played the organ and hereby depicted himself.
The Finale is Elgar.
This is my favorite piece of music, and also Arturo Toscanini's!!
I am not quite sure what he meant when he said it was the finest orchestrated.........
Bravo!!!
Edward Elgar:Enigma-variációk op.36
Brit Királyi Filharmonikus Zenekar
Vezényel:Andrew Litton
1987
Just sublime. Never palls. And what phenomenal orchestration. Thanks for this reminder of what an amazing musical lineage we belong to.
Had to look it up cause it was honestly the only part of "clubbed to death" I liked.
Thanks for the sheet music!
+Chunga Nanook My pleasure!
So beatiful
the nimrod is of course beautiful, but damn, that finale is something else
Would like to hear a piano solo version of Enigma Variations. Great performance btw.
to any wayward souls who came here from the game Cypher, you're on the right track. press "read more" for the answer and explanation.
the answer to the puzzle is "Dorabella" because the music notes from the original puzzle can be added together to get the letters "elgarvten" or Elgar Variation Ten.
What game is this a sypher too? Whoever did that has great taste.
@@josephr.imholte4666 The game is called Cypher, it's on steam, would only recommend if you already have an interest in cryptography.
That intro to the romanza feels like a flower sprouting its petals, 22:30
This was sampled
In "clubbed to death"
""""sampled""""
no it wasn't. it was re-orchestrated.
"Clubbed to death" is completely sampled, there is nothing original in it.
Well if you can't write your own shit you might as well steal something. Sorry, I meant "sample".
Kyle
Pretty sure that Don Davis composed, wrote, orchestrated and conducted the almost entire Matrix Trilogy soundtrack. One of the song that includes the intro of a classical piece of Edward Elgar doesn't seem to be much of a deal, Clubbed to Death being a pretty fucking awesome song in the end. So he definitely can "write his own shit".
0:50 at least the matrix had enough class to rip from a cultured piece
Knew I'd heard it somewhere else!
My marching band has this for our show
I was looking for some peace and then I found this
great study material as always. really had no idea that's where "Clubbed to Death" originated from
Having got a copy of all three LP Records that came out in 1957 for the Centinuary of Sir Edward Edgar's Birth as well as a Pre war 78rpm Record set off the Violin Concerto in the Pre war 78rpm His Master's Voice album as I'm a Collector and Admirer of the late Yehudi Menuhin and the HMV Treasury Reissue and a Mint first Pressing Stereo of his 1966 Recording and I've been Collecting his Records for over forty years both on Pre War 78rpm and LP Vinyl and I would Reckonmend all off theses 1957 Reissues too anyone as well as his later 1966 Recording
0:07 *Matrix - Clubbed to death intensifies*
Wow.
14:44 part is so Dunkirk(Nolan film) feel when the plane landed on the beach
14 is Elgar himself my favourite variation.
A new theory is out about the Enigma
Try Orlando Pearson's Variations on an Enigma staring Sherlock Holmes, Edward Elgar and Franz Kafka.
The beginning was stol.. sampled by Rob Dougan for the track "Clubbed to death" (the Matrix OST)
btw ysobel was a Viola student of Elgar's. Not a Violinist.
And that is exactly what is written in the comments: A VIOLIST , meaning a viola player
Here from OD Pixel :D
Unbelievable! You think this Piano Score is available from Boosey & Hawkes? BRAVO!
Elgar made what is essentially a film score with no film.
I’m currently clubbing myself to death.
❤
man, this guy needs to pay royalties to Rob Dougan...
much better than the bernstein, who sadly didn't grasp the ambling nature of this piece
Impressions:
Variation 1 starts out so strong.
3 is meh tbh.
4 bursts your eardrums.
5 goes on its own tangent, like the opening violin melody sounds like a theme on its own, and we have chirpy parts interrupting the mood (while making it still work).
8 is like, kind of normal, making you think that it's the end of a segment, and then it just transitions to the epic piece that is Nimrod like it's nothing, revealing it to be the actual end to 1/2.
9's gotta be the best best interpretation that I've heard so far.
--
11 is trying hard to be dramatic, but it kind of feels generic tbh
12 on the other hand, has soul into the theme. Cello just saves the day. The violins save the day.
--
Good thing 12 ended on a high note. 13 and 14 feel the most coupled. They have that, "it's coming to an end" feeling to them.
If you search up Plainfield north marching band 2019 we use this and our show is called Edison's enigma it's very well done and sounds amazing
ExO SouR I don’t know exactly who you are but I marched that show as well. I was the euphonium soloist. Such an amazing show and I would give anything to perform it one more time
schöne Sendung
J ai découvert cette oeuvre dans le téléfilm de David wickes avec Michael Caine sur Jack l eventreur.
Inoubliable , mais dois je me féliciter que fatalement elle donne désormais pour beaucoup un plus d exaltation au goût du sang ?
Enfin ,au moins elle pose le problème , vraiment ( contrairement à Orange mécanique , ou le potentiel guerrier de l hymne à la joie est juste effleuré , comme si Kubrick avait par avance joue avec le gregarisme des critiques , au sens large , de son film).
12:26 The part we all came for! (just kidding - I know we all came to hear the entire thing)
The Ultimate Reductionist I came for only that... lol
ikr that section is soooooooo goood it will live forever in my heart
i want to throw hands w whoever did the ironic treatment to nimrod
🌿🌼😇💮💐🌺🏵🇻🇦✝️🇻🇦🏵💐🌺💮🇲🇬🐣🥰💮🌼😇🌿💒🌿😇📚🪅🦊🌿🇻🇦💐🎶🏵💐🌺🦁🇦🇲🌸⛑✝️💞🥰🐣🇻🇦🌼🇻🇦💮🌿💒🌺🌿🇻🇦🙋♂️
#9 NIMROD tears tears ♥♪
9:35 how the hell do you even count that time signature
I'd wish it was as easy as saying the unheard melody is just "Volga boatmen"... since it sounds familiar. But I'm afraid it's not that easy :c
in fact it is even MUCH EASIER than that... I think it is too easy to be told, so everyone knows the answer and nobody tells it - very british ! :-)
12:26 💚
12:26😍
29:32 is rehearsal 79
gut
Which version is the two piano score? If possible, could you tell me the link of the score?
Shame about the ads, one of which started playing in the very last split-second of the piece.
had to do this for homeworkrip me
Variation XV by Benjamim Walfischer it’s very much similar to Variation IX
9:54 Kalinnikov did something similar in S1 M1 lol
12:26!!!
Muse
Who on earth did the piano transcription?lol
Dunkirk brought me here. Thank you, Hans Zimmer
I wish I can read these notes
Think of it as a DAW piano roll on paper.
4:07 to 5:28 part 3
0:05 Matrix anyone?