Elgar - Enigma Variations

I

C.A.E.

Elgar's wife, Alice, lovingly portrayed.

II

H.D.S-P.

Hew David Steuart-Powell, a pianist with whom Elgar played in chamber ensembles.

III

R.B.T.

Richard Baxter Townshend, a friend whose caricature of an old man in an amateur theatre production is captured in the variation.

IV

W.M.B.

William Meath Baker, 'country squire, gentleman and scholar', informing his guests of the day's arrangements.

V

R.P.A.

Richard Arnold, son of the poet Matthew Arnold.

VI

Ysobel

Isabel Fitton, an amateur viola player from a musical family living in Malvern.

VII

Troyte

Arthur Troyte Griffith, a Malvern architect and close friend of Elgar throughout their lives - the variation focuses on Troyte's limited abilities as a pianist.

VIII

W.N.

Winifred Norbury, known to Elgar through her association with the Worcestershire Philharmonic Society - the variation captures both her laugh and the atmosphere of her eighteenth century house.

IX

Nimrod 

A J Jaeger, Elgar's great friend whose encouragement did much to keep Elgar going during the period when he was struggling to secure a lasting reputation - the variation allegedly captures a discussion between them on Beethoven's slow movements.

X

Dorabella

Dora Penney, daughter of the Rector of Wolverhampton and a close friend of the Elgars.

XI

G.R.S.

George Sinclair, organist at Hereford Cathedral, although the variation allegedly portrays Sinclair's bulldog Dan paddling in the River Wye after falling in.

XII

B.G.N.

Basil Nevinson, an amateur cellist who, with Elgar and Hew Steuart-Powell, completed the chamber music trio.

XIII

***

Probably Lady Mary Lygon, a local noblewoman who sailed for Australia at about the time Elgar wrote the variation, which quotes from Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. The use of asterisks rather than initials has however invited speculation that they conceal the identity of Helen Weaver, Elgar's fiancée for eighteen months in 1883/84 before she emigrated to New Zealand.

XIV

E.D.U.

Elgar himself, Edoo being Alice's pet name for him.