Solving Elgar's Enigma in 6 Minutes
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- Опубликовано: 8 ноя 2020
- A Solution to Elgar's Enigma Variations
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Listening In - Elgar Video: • The Mystery Behind Elg...
so much passion for music is projected by this guy that makes me want to become a musician myself! thank you for having this channel, I really enjoy it.
Naww. I tend to get a lot of self doubt or "what's the point"-ness around November so this makes it feel worthwhile to continue!
@@InsidetheScore it's days getting shorter. People say it's good to go out as much as possible to bask in the sun, if there's any to be had.
Thank you so much for the mention! You’ve sent a lot of people to my video, which I throughly appreciate! It’s such a beautiful and interesting piece, so you can’t have too many videos about it.
You're awesome!!
I got your video recommended under this video lol
"She is a bit flat"
*cuts to playing a jaunty theme*
...with no hands! Clever, that flat lady.
That makes perfect sense to me! One of the best "solutions" to the Enigma I've heard.
Then it ceases to be an "Enigma"...which is the official title of the work.
@@crewelocoman5b161 Elgar's official title was "Variations on an Original Theme". "Enigma Variations" is only a nickname that happened to stick.
@@ftumschk Elgar named his Original Theme "Enigma".
@@crewelocoman5b161 He officially named the work "Variations on an Original Theme", and thus it was first published. The "enigma" nickname emerged a little later. Incidentally, the "enigma" written on the manuscript wasn't in Elgar's handwriting, but was added later (by August Jaeger, if I remember correctly).
One of the things i love about Music Theory RUclips is the fact that creators do not refrain from mentioning other channels
My jaw dropped when you presented your "Rule, Britannia" theory. Mind officially blown!
it's not theirs-this was proposed all the way back in 1975-6 by Theodore van Houten.
@@rin_etoware_2989 *his
Here's the thing: It's no longer the "Enigma Variations" if the mystery is solved .
So the proposed solution here is just a variation of the enigma and the solution itself remains an enigma
As always, remember that your questions and requests inspire future video topics! Leave comments if you have any ideas or questions!
You mean the Rhyger question "Can you solve enigma?"
Oscar: "Yee"
@@felixdittrich5469 Oh, Felix has a normal name now.
@@MattheasBoelter I always had I thought.
@@felixdittrich5469 it was "can u solve enigma" thank you
@@oscarosicki Nah cant be Oscar.
Knowing you, that piano is probably an antique from Venice but you're too humble to tell us.
It's like The avengers man, Listening in is one of my favorite youtube channels ever and sideways is high up there too
Ha! funny
Rule Britannia has always been a proposed solution for the enigma, but it never looked more likely than any other theme/song/folktune. Pointing out the pun on NEVER really gives it a new light and makes it the best possible solution so far. Really great intuition!
And now... Elgar's Dorabella Cipher? ;)
Thank you so much for the shout-out to Listening In! I've been watching a couple of his videos now and he really is a fantastic youtuber with really deep and beautiful analysis. Deserves much more views! Great to discover more content on youtube of such quality and passion! Greetings from Germany :)
I like how you have presented this subject. I think that Nimrod's magic lies in the creative amalgamation of melodies (which you stated previously) and the virtuosic blending of Western European styles of melody, dissonance and counterpoint. The mystery therein is how the tonal centers suprise, satisfiy and contradict the audience's expectations. This outcome is a sheer joy of what it means to understand our own emotions and relate it to song and suffering. I studied music for 7 years, not that it means I am a master or expert but I can speak from a place of experience. This variation is always has so much to communicate to the heart.
Can’t wait for the in-depth piano video :D
I listened to my local orchestra performing this piece in their first concert after the lockdown. Such an amazing piece of art.
Yo Brahms!
Are you ok and all? Schools seems to take a lot of your time my friend. :D
@@felixdittrich5469 yes, of course, I'm ok. The thing is: I joined this discord primarily for the listening parties. Those aren't happening though.
Y'all are very interesting people and I do like the server, but I still enjoy talking to my real-life-friends more than talking via discord. I really appreciate your comment but I still barely know any of you. I do see you building this community with fairly close relationships by talking to the others almost every day and this is something I didn't know was possible and that is quite remarkable IMO.
Maybe I'm just not the type of guy for internet-communication. I enjoy participating in a few community listening parties or from time to time hopping into a conversation with y'all, but you shouldn't expect me to be as frequently online as in the beginning days.
@@johannesbrahms3322 Huh what no everythings fine man. I mean we are kinda building but Im still totally with you that I prefer rl friends, but I mean, shouldnt everyone do so as well?
@@felixdittrich5469 *has over 50.000 messages* ;)
Yeah I know it's fine, I just used your comment to get things clear in my head by typing it out :D
@@johannesbrahms3322 I know Im active a lot haha. But nevertheless I still prefer rl friends. I miss them during this, at least, 1 month shut down light here in our country. ;_; But you are right, Im more connected to the internet than you might be, true.
Ah its ok if you cleared up a bit haha. :D
What a wonderful video!! Thanks for all the dedication to create such a fun and at the same time informative video
I got goosebumps watching this. Your explanation for the enigma is quite coherent! Definitely seems in line with somethng you would expect from a composer.
Nimrod is one of my favorite pieces, and became so when I heard it in person for the first time. Thank you for your terrific content!
I love this video! My favourite composer, one of my favourite pieces, and this was also true of my father who imparted his love for Elgar, the Variations and especially Nimrod to me.
Music is so much more than a musicians, instruments and sound - it's about people's lives, passions and in this case character, humour and even friends. Thank you so much for making this. I rarely come across Elgar here in Switzerland, I don't think he's much known outside the UK. All the best, Rob
Excellent video. Extremely interesting, particularly for musicians that are not English. And I find your passion and love for music very stimulating and refreshing. Please keep doing videos like this.
I am sure everyone here noticed the use of Nimrod at the end of "Dunkirk".
i remember watching that film at school, and there was a weirdly altered version of nimrod at the end
Oh I noticed immediately... I thought they had actually inadvertently ripped off nimrod but it was so obvious... then researched and found it was on purpose and all was right with the world
I like this solution! Great video!
This is my favorite piece ever written, and I love your discourse on the matter.
Love your videos. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much for the video, I fell in love with this piece when I first came to America, then I started reading about till I found this. Very interesting. Thanks!!
I'm so glad your pianola is working well! It sounds fine!
I really loved this video, thanks so much for sharing with the world :)!
I think the hidden theme is not of music but rather relates to the inspiration for this piece, true friendship.
The first notes u played on that piano almost made me fell of the chair
Excellent and extremely inspiring! Thank you.
Brilliant. I believe you found it. Well done!
She’s beautiful! I too own an antique piano, we embrace their lovely quirks!
He did it!
Very credible solution! Good thinking! (And listening, of course!)
Wonderful. One can learn so much! I can only refer to a BBC Radio broadcast (I still have this on a Cassette!) from 1982(or 83) in which Auld Lang Syne was played as counterpart to the finale, and this made perfect sense to me, although I am not a musician at all, but I understand and can read music notes a bit. My passion for classical music is endless.
A brilliant theory and solution! Well done
That is a very convincing explanation, and charmingly put.
To seal this theory, remember also that Elgar said to ‘Dorabella’ - Dora Penny - that she of all people should solve the enigma. A British penny coin displayed a figure of Britannia.
Brilliant! Insight. Enthusiasm. And if I may; a really nice voice.
Sure, as good as any I've yet heard. I like that it comes from two angles.
Wow! Thank you so much!
Great job! Don't worry about some confirmation of your theory. You nailed it.
This is the best video in the history of youtube and music.
Beautiful!
It is a brilliant solution IMO. I need to go & listen to Enigma Variations again, now.
What's funny is that when I listened to Listening In's video (before this one), where he presented several solutions without highlighting one as the most plausible, I myself felt like the Britannia solution seemed by far the most compelling of the ones mentioned. And the additional "Penny" evidence for this solution only adds to the weight.
Perfect solution bravo.
Brilliant. You've solved it.
Fascinating!
Damn! Amazing job!
I liked this different video format. I had no idea that you were such a good pianist
I'm not!
You're a great singer!
Wonderful video and great musical detective work. Many thanks for posting.
In my opinion, Parry’s tune for ‘Jerusalem’ also fits.
Thanks for the video. I would be interestet in a quick guide to shostakovich 9th symphonie
Ever since I first played this at 16 I took it for granted that "...never, never, never" in Rule Brittania was behind it. Great concert piece- on one of the 2 concert programmes we took to the States in 1976 for the Bicentenery tour with the LSSO under a very youthful Simon Rattle. Audiences went wild for the Enigma Variations- seems hardly anyone had heard of it and so were blown away. As they were also by the Dvorak cello concerto, soloist Christine Jackson- still at school like the rest of us. N0 wait maybe that was the following year... but the Elgar was all over the USA though.
Cool and all, but now I really want to see a video about your piano!
that is both mighty and sweet.
Wonderful solution!
Then it's no longer an Enigma...you know the title of the piece.
@@crewelocoman5b161 haha good point :) i like the solution he came up with, of course we shan't ever know the true solution Elgar intended
I've worked with a few Nimrods in my day.
Don’t worry about covering the same topic as others or others covering the same topics as you. Having dared to quote Roger Scruton in the past, it makes clear beyond any doubt your work is at a completely different level than other RUclips musicians. Not to mention your analysis of The Lord of the Rings score (highlighting Flight from Edoras, the most underrated cue of the trilogy, in my opinion) and honestly everything else you’ve done. I don’t send Neely or Sideways to friends I hope to get into classical or orchestral music in general. I send your introductory videos, 14 pieces, etc.
What I like most about this solution is that it is quite funny. The British sense of humor at play.
When appointed conductor of the Worcestershire Philharmonic Society in late 1897, Elgar selected the chorus "Wach' Auf!" from Wagner's opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" as the musical motto for this new ensemble. The chorus opened their meetings and appeared on the society's letterhead. The significance of Elgar's choice of theme songs is that "Wach' Auf!" is a musical homage to Martin Luther who is likened to "a blissful nightingale" (ein wonnigliche Nachtigall) whose singing "rings out over hills and valley." The first concert given by Worcestershire Philharmonic Society occurred in May 1898, five months before Elgar began openly composing his 'Enigma' Variations. Elgar's choice of a Wagnerian chorus in praise of Luther as the signature song for the Worcestershire Philharmonic Society is consistent with the discovery of Luther's hymn 'Ein feste Burg' (A Mighty Fortress) as the covert Theme to the 'Enigma' Variations.
ruclips.net/video/ELgmZMvHhLs/видео.html
Ferdinand Ries wrote a variations on Rule Britannia in Eb major for what it’s worth
I love player pianos. It's the kind of piano my Dad bought when it was time for me to start lessons.
But, yeah, get her tuned up.
I love the cut to the ragtime section on the piano 😂
I agree and this also makes sense with why muse took inspiration from this in their song "The Globalist".
Nice explanaition
Clever!
Very convincing
Brilliant vid. and I love the "never, never never" bit. One question that has always puzzled me is how Nimrod became the national piece it is, played at memorial services, funerals and at national gatherings, not necessarily sombre. When I play the piano reduction I get all teary but I don't know why. Can anyone explain?
This is an amazing "solution" 🙂 Elgar however writes in the programme notes that the theme "goes but is not played". Do you perhaps think that this goes against this "solution", as techincally in this explanation, the "Never" theme is played, just not in its original form. I'd love to hear what you think...and either way, this is one of the best solutions out there. Amazing work! 👍
If the "Never" theme doesn't appear in its "original form", then it goes but is not played. :)
Someone suggested that the “hidden” theme is the opening melody to Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Works for me!
Inspired by your Parsifal video, I think something a bit populist like comparing the Tolkien/Shore Ring to Wagner’s would be very enjoyable. My teacher referred to Shore’s materials as “lite motifs” (thinking the ring’s theme is a rip off of Siegfried discovering Brünnhilde for the first time). Could be a clever way to expand the audience as Sideways has done without abandoning the integrity of your channel.
Interesting - been several years since I've listened closely to the Ring, would be potentially interesting but also could sink endless hours into that
Fun solution
that's amazing!
unfortunately as a Brazilian this NEVER song means nothing to me, but this discovery feels amazing! hehe
bravo...another musician that broke the enigma
What if Beethoven's pathetique was the actual theme?
What if it was, so what?
If someone had asked him he might have replied "it's never the Pathétique".
@@mikecole1633 lol hilarious
As soon as he played Nimrod I thought I've heard this before. Then he plays Beethoven I thought Oh that's it.
Elgar would say "what a pathetic answer" ;-)
I think you've cracked it
U have solved enigma
at ur request
No shit Sherlock.
So maybe we have Mr. Jaeger to thank for 3 of the greatest musical compositions of all time - The Enigma Variations, Symphony no l in A flat major and Symphony no 2 in E flat major.
I'm not British, but I agree with your opinion that "Rule, Britannia" is the strongest candidate for the solution to the puzzle. I also think that the "Nimrod" variation contrapuntally alludes to "Ein feste Burg".
The Nimrod variation was also played at the BBC proms, following a minute of silence, on the night princess Diana died (was not part of that night’s official program).
With apologies for the plug, in the interests of adding to the discussion, I have
suggested a different solution on my fledgling channel. I hope it at least
brings a smile to your face. PS- love your videos!
I'd heard the "never" theory some time ago but I can't remember where though I now know Theodore van Houten came up with it. It certainly makes sense as presented here. One can imagine it being the source of something floating inside EE's head that eventually became the Enigma theme, the first bar of which has of course the additional advantage of having the rhythm of "Edward Elgar". Funny how themes evolve sometimes. However, 11 mins into the "Mystery Behind Elgar's Enigma" video reminds us of the bigger picture.
Jaeger (along with Hans Richter) was responsible also for prompting the end of the last Variation as we know it, from the moment the organ comes in. (The original ending has ben recorded by the Hallé.) The word "Enigma" pencilled into the MS first page is in Jaeger's writing, obviously with Elgar's approval. We have a lot to thank Nimrod for.
I remember seeing this explanation in the Musical Quarterly perhaps 30 years ago. Don’t remember the author, though.
unusual mysticMeg approach? what if the 'theme never appears' just means that even from Measure 1, they are all variations? A good comparative look at harmonic progression in ALL these vars should give a nutshell of harmony, at least. Does that harmonic progression, which outlines ALL the vars, also outline Rule Brittania?
Is he the one who composed pomp and circumstance?
Yes
Yes
Sadly, no one will ever know.
The first performance, conducted in London by Hans Richter, took place on 19 June 1899 in a concert that concluded with Mozart's 'Prague' Symphony. Listen to the trio of the 2nd movement.
The exact 5 note theme is there in plain sight. Coincidence........I think not !
Tuning/retuning the piano can be done with the tuning wrench and an app on your PC.
Sometimes older pianos are tuned a little lower to lower the tension on the soundboard because it's old and likely to break.
@@amj.composer Most stress is taken by the cast iron frame. The soundboard receives very little of that.
Anyway, 1 semitone pitch difference is 12% difference in tension, which may or may not be significant for the given instrument integrity.
I grew up with the theory the horizen (distant hills, was it the mendips?) was the main theme, but I have never seen anyone compare score to the horizen.
Malverns. And I developed that theory too, but I'm not a musician, so not qualified to expound or research it. Thought about it on and off, ever since visiting Elgar's place in
Elgar does say that you can't play the hidden theme. But the Malverns are a stonking great landmark that you cannot miss.
The main theme also goes (twiddly bits) up down up down UP down pause up down Up down up down (twiddly bits tailing off).
It makes me wonder what the exact quotation was that Elgar made to 'Dorabella': was it "You of all people should SEE the answer?" Was her house facing the Malvern Hills?
It is said that during your last hours you will hear the most beautiful music imaginable, to which I would simply say: “I’ve already heard it.”
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
What!
That's my comment in your video!
Did Elgar hint that there are two themes? Any idea about that larger theme he mentions?
The larger theme is friendship.
My vote is for Stabat Mater. You played the notes from Rule Britannia, and if you were correct then the theme would appear in the enigma variations.
The correct theme is one where the enigma theme is a full counterpoint.
I recall Elgar said that somewhere?
Elgar never actually said that the Enigma theme had to be a full counterpoint to the hidden theme. That claim comes from one of Elgar's interviewers, who inferred it from what Elgar told him but provided no actual context.
The failure after nearly a century by anyone to produce a convincing contrapuntal match, despite Elgar insisting the hidden theme is recognizable and not obscure, is to me only further proof that he did not envision such a one-to-one relationship between it and the Enigma theme. He could just as easily have been improvising on a fragment or fragments of the hidden theme, or alluding to it in different ways. I agree with the video that Rule Britannia ticks enough boxes to be convincing.
Ultra cool 🙏🙏🏿🦄👏👏🎩 you blade lunner
No link to the video you mentioned "bear you to the punch"? :(
But anyway, I wouldn't let that kind of thing worry you too much. We saw a spate of similar occurrences in the Edutuber community a little while back. It happens. Usually people just appreciate more variety in voices and approaches to the subject.
I'll add one now! I don't mind at all - actually wanted to use it as an opportunity to plug "Listening In" which I think is a great channel
If the theme "never appears", does anyone tried to see which notes ARE NOT appearing at once in the variations ?
Isn’t the mystery tune a theme from one of Bach’s fugues?
If it is a little flat, it may have been tuned to A=432Hz, which is said to be better than A=440Hz.
🤯!!!!
does your piano have a recording system such as ampico ?
does it also play automatically or only record. that fascinate me
@@TheMusicalKnokcers I'm fairly sure it can't record. Would be amazing if it could - but I've not discovered that feature
I had an advanced theory professor in my last year of undergrad musical studies who thought the theme was "Happy Birthday to You" which had made it across the pond by the time this work was composed. I can't hear any part of this without hearing it. Don't blame me. Blame Dr. Wong, my professor.