Elgar - Enigma Variations [Menuhin-Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]
Here's a disc that i've had for 13 years, and every time i play it i think 'what a lovely coupling this is', probably Elgar's best two works on a single disc, this is now 135 in my all time favourite discs, and especially the Enigma Variations caught my ear, what wonderful little vignettes of Elgar's friends they really are, variations not only in device, but variations in variety too!, it's hard to believe you can wring so much good music out of one simple but profound tune.
Yehudi Menuhin was an American Violinist and Conductor, he died roughly 11 years ago, and made this recording in 1985, the cover is a stroke of genius, showing Menuhin and the Cellist Lloyd-Webber, with a bust of Elgar himself between them, and in the background some orange coloured wood panelling, nicely lit, and the bust of Elgar neatly has his name right at the bottom of the booklet, a lovely symmetrical shot [photo by Richard Holt].
In some way or another, virtually all the variations moved me to some degree, but it was the theme, variations 6-7 & 9 that really got my ears to prick up, here's a synopsis of these four pieces,
Theme, here's the original theme, an ingenious sad lament, starting for strings alone, but the woodwind bring in a slightly happier wistfulness [0:34], but the dour low strings come back [0:54], and certainly the cellos really sing themselves strong [1:05].
Variation 6, called 'Ysobel', refers to Isobel Fitton, a pupil of Elgar who played the viola, featuring of course the viola, it has a clarinet or bass clarinet rising 'bubble' starting at [0:33], based on the opening phrase of the variation, and keeps coming back a number of times, and it's a charming little effect.
Variation 7, by contrast the seventh variation is boisterous, depicting 'Troyte' who is Arthur Troyte Griffiths, lots of galloping timpani here throughout, and braying brass [0:18], and whizzing strings [0:29+], it supposedly depicts a thunderstorm that Elgar and this friend got caught up in.
Variation 9, the most celebrated variation, called 'Nimrod', based on Augustus J. Jeager, it's a gorgeous Adagio, his friend talked about Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata, and Elgar starts off this variation 'hinting' at the slow movement of the Beethoven work, starts off quiet at first, with strings only, but wind instruments appear [0:49], and a nice oboe solo [1:47], the strings rise in power [2:29], and later the brass do the same [3:37], but it quickly dies into gentleness again.
Theme, here's the original theme, an ingenious sad lament, starting for strings alone, but the woodwind bring in a slightly happier wistfulness [0:34], but the dour low strings come back [0:54], and certainly the cellos really sing themselves strong [1:05].
Variation 6, called 'Ysobel', refers to Isobel Fitton, a pupil of Elgar who played the viola, featuring of course the viola, it has a clarinet or bass clarinet rising 'bubble' starting at [0:33], based on the opening phrase of the variation, and keeps coming back a number of times, and it's a charming little effect.
Variation 7, by contrast the seventh variation is boisterous, depicting 'Troyte' who is Arthur Troyte Griffiths, lots of galloping timpani here throughout, and braying brass [0:18], and whizzing strings [0:29+], it supposedly depicts a thunderstorm that Elgar and this friend got caught up in.
Variation 9, the most celebrated variation, called 'Nimrod', based on Augustus J. Jeager, it's a gorgeous Adagio, his friend talked about Beethoven's Pathetique Piano Sonata, and Elgar starts off this variation 'hinting' at the slow movement of the Beethoven work, starts off quiet at first, with strings only, but wind instruments appear [0:49], and a nice oboe solo [1:47], the strings rise in power [2:29], and later the brass do the same [3:37], but it quickly dies into gentleness again.
In doing a little research, i find that there's quite a debate on what the hidden 'enigma' is in these variations, three of the best ideas are,
1 Pi / Sing A Song Of Sixpence,
2 Ein Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, and
3 Rule Britannia,
some of the ideas go really deep!, but you don't need to solve any riddle to 'crack' the beauty of these variations, anyone can hear their treasures just by opening their ears.
1 Pi / Sing A Song Of Sixpence,
2 Ein Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, and
3 Rule Britannia,
some of the ideas go really deep!, but you don't need to solve any riddle to 'crack' the beauty of these variations, anyone can hear their treasures just by opening their ears.
Here's Menuhin conducting the Seventh Variation 'Troyte' on YouTube.
