Elgar's Variations for Orchestra, commonly known as the 'Enigma' Variations, marked an epoch both in his career, and in the renaissance of English music at the turn of the century. First performed in 1899 under Hans Richter, the work became his passport to national fame and international success. From the first it intrigued listeners to know why it was called 'enigma', and who were the 'friends pictured within', to whom the work is dedicated. Appearing in the centenary year of the work's composition, this book elucidates what is known, and what has been said about the work and the enigma, and directs future listeners to what matters most: the inspired qualities of the music.
By:
Julian Rushton (University of Leeds) Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 224mm,
Width: 143mm,
Spine: 13mm
Weight: 265g ISBN:9780521631754 ISBN 10: 0521631750 Series:Cambridge Music Handbooks Pages: 128 Publication Date:03 May 1999 Audience:
General/trade
,
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
ELT Advanced
,
Primary
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
1. Introduction; 2. Composition; 3. Variations: the theme; 4. Friends pictured within; 5. A form of self-portraiture; 6. The enigmas; 7. Postscript.
Reviews for Elgar: Enigma Variations
'Rushton has both professorial persistence and critical acumen.' The Elgar Society Journal ' ... wholly admirable.' The Musical Times