12.20.07
Enigma Variations
Variation No. 9 (Nimrod) from Edward Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations is one of the most lofty melodies that never ceases to captivate me and lift me to heights. I always thought it sounded akin to the Adagio of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Pathetique… and further study affirmed that Variation No. 9 was indeed meant to portray Elgar’s best friend and a certain conversation they shared about Beethoven’s slow movements! Ahhh, at least I wasn’t merely imagining a connection this time.
The remaining 13 enigmas, or variations, are also depictions of other intimate
companions in Elgar’s life. Elgar was very fond of puzzles, cryptograms,
and ciphers, that Variation No. 10 (Dorabella) interestingly characterizes an
acquaintance who also happens to be a receiver of Elgar’s “other enigma” – the
“Dorabella Cipher,” that up to this day has not been successfully deciphered.
Edward Elgar would have been the kind of man I’d be fascinated with. He began reading Voltaire at a young age and was very much attuned to nature all throughout his life. He stated, “There is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it and you simply take as much as you require.” “The
trees are singing my music…Or have I sung theirs?”
But nobler than him – in my own opinion at least – was his wife; the inspiration not only for Variation No. 1 but also his life’s inspiration. Caroline Alice Roberts was unconditionally supportive to the extent of sacrificing her own social class and ambitions for his sake. Alice wrote in her diary, “The care of a genius is enough of a life work for any woman.” The famous and well-loved Salut
d’amour was Elgar’s engagement present to her. I had sweet goosebumps after
learning this. Haha
Now back to the “Enigma.” Elgar declared that the orchestration provided two
puzzles. “The enigma I will not explain… I warn you that the apparent
connection 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…
The first puzzle is supposed to ascertain which of Elgar’s friends was expressed in which variation. Researchers have expertly solved this first mystery, yet the
second puzzle keeps people guessing… but the beautiful theory of Professor Ian Parrott is one of the reasons why I was eager to write about this. Prof. Parrott believes that the Enigma corresponds to the Vulgate version of 1 Corinthians 13:12 which states: “videmus nunc per speculum in enigmate tunc autem facie ad faciem nunc cognosco ex parte tunc autem cognoscam sicut et cognitus sum” translated as “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” The Enigmatic theme that “’goes,’ but is not played” “through and over the whole set” is the great and central theme of Christian scripture - Love.
No wonder it’s exquisite.
This provides me motivation to write my own Enigma Variations on paper. Perhaps by then you shall be able to guess the riddle that I am?
