Elgar's "Enigma"
Much ink has been spent trying to figure out where Elgar got his original theme from to no avail. One person (no names please!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GjOtzkvhvgespecially has made himself perfectly obnoxious with his absurd and, to my mind, forced theories. Yes Sir Edward was a mystifier but he was not suffering from foolishness! So "Ein Feste Burg" is not the one in my opinion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GjOtzkvhvg
The facts are these: Elgar had earlier in the day heard Mozart's "Prague" Symphony
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._38_(Mozart)
and was improvising on the piano when his wife remarked that it was a good tune and what was it? Elgar replied that it was nothing but that something might be made of it.
In the slow movement of the Symphony, a second theme (after about 2 minutes in.) is heard and, though the Enigma theme is in the minor, it seems likely that this is the source and not "Ein Feste Burg", "Auld Lang Syne" or even Pi!
It seems that Sir Edward, early on, understood the value of free publicity!
posted by Ed @ 8:36 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
We may never know, but there's certainly room for informed speculation. One fact is indisputable, "Enigma" is a masterpiece and very possibly the greatest of Elgar's many notable musical achievements.
Welcome back Joe! There is no doubt that these Variations put England back on the musical map after a long hiatus lasting since Purcell. (I discount G and S who are in a different category altogether.)
But with his two Symphonies and Concertos, it would be hard to for me to pick an absolute favorite to say nothing of the three major sacred works (the lukewarm reception of the latter two caused Elgar to lose his faith entirely).
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