Nelson Gallery A

ENIGMA VARIATIONS: by Edward Elgar

VARIATIONS ON AN ORIGINAL THEME FOR ORCHESTRA, OP. 36, is a theme and its fourteen variations written by Edward Elgar in 1898 which is commonly referred to as The Enigma Variations.
The enigma of the title (given to the piece by Elgar himself) came about because of two uncertainties. In the score, each variation is prefaced with either a nickname or initials, and the whole is dedicated to friends pictured within, so the identity of the friends became a puzzle to be solved, and over the last century it has been, more or less. Elgar himself is one of them (Number Fourteen).
In a note he wrote for the first performance Elgar also stated, I will not explain the dark saying of the Enigma: through and over the whole set [the original theme and the fourteen variations] another and larger theme goes but is not played; the principal theme never appears the chief character is never on stage.
Many theories have been put forth to explain the dark saying, almost all arising from convoluted connections to other musical works. But one, suggested by an Ian Parrott, proposes that the unheard theme is related to a verse found in St. Paul's famous essay on love in First Corinthians: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. The Latin word translated as "darkly" was "enigmate". Parrott proposes that the Enigmatic Theme which goes but is not played, is the great and central theme of life, love.

ENIGMA VARIATIONS: by Paisley Griffin

For some years I have been intrigued by the thought of getting ideas for art from reactions to the emotional world inside my head instead of getting ideas for art from my emotional reactions to the more concrete exterior world that surrounds me. I presumed the result would be some form of abstract art, if indeed I could do it at all. I was never satisfied with the occasional attempts; I needed some sort of guide, some sort of cage to contain the chaos.
Then, upon hearing Elgar's piece on the radio, it hit me: theme and variations! A contrast between the chaos of the emotional, spiritual being and the rational, pattern-imposing one! Invisible themes! The ideas piled up, and for the next ten months I have been having a wonderful time playing with the wool of my gathering.
Elgar had fourteen variations; I have seven so far. Elgar's initials stood for his friend's names; mine stand for my vision's forms. Elgar's inspiration for his ninth variation, Nimrod, came from his friend Jaeger (German for Hunter; my inspiration for the ninth variation came from two hunter pals, Hank and Courtney.
As for my equivalent to Elgar hidden overall theme, I can't explain it: an enigma.
1. (I.T.B.) In The Beginning: The world was without form and void.
2. (I.T.W.) In The Winter: Winter storms cannot obscure the glimpse of a summer to come.
3. (I.A.B.) I Am Born: Bubble chambers show positrons and electrons being born: two from one; sperm and egg unite: one from two.
4. (A.I.D.) And I Die: Letting go of the familiar Earth, being engulfed by the unknown heart of darkness.
5. (Y.A.Y.) Yin And Yang: There is no joy in summer without winter pain, no light without dark, no life without death, etc.
6. (I.F.L.) I Find Love: The eclipse of the self upon discovery of its other half.
9. Nimrod: The leafy green forest, black death, red blood, bullet traces, hunter and hunted become the same blue soul.