Elgar - Enigma VariationsProgramme NoteWritten in 1899 and first performed on June 19th the same year, the Enigma Variations was the work which established Elgar as a major composer. The genesis of the piece came after a weary day of teaching when he sat at the piano improvising. His wife suddenly asked “what was that” and received the reply “nothing - but something might be made of it.” He then improvised a few impromptu ‘variations’ in a way as to suggest the mannerisms of a few of their friends - a characteristic laugh, a slight stammer, an attempt to play the piano, a way of moving around a room and leaving with a slam of the door. And so the ‘Enigma’ Variations were created - but the mystery of the enigma still endures. At the time of their first performance Elgar wrote for the concert programme: “It is true that I have sketched for their amusement and mine, the idiosyncrasies of fourteen of my friends, not necessarily musicians; but this is a personal matter.... The Variations should stand simply as a piece of music. The Enigma I will not explain - its ‘dark saying’ must be left unguessed, and I warn you that the connexion 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 - e.g., Maeterlinck's “L'Intruse” and “Les Sept Princesses” the chief character is never on the stage.” The recording supplied is of a live performance at Watford Colosseum on October 7th 2004. The musical performance is unedited. |
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