Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma', Op.36 (Elgar, Edward)

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Performances

Recordings

14 more: Variation I: "C.A.E." (L'istesso tempo) • Variation II: "H.D.S-P." (Allegro) • Variation III: "R.B.T." (Allegretto) • Variation IV: "W.M.B." (Allegro di molto) • Variation V: "R.P.A." (Moderato) • Variation VI: "Ysobel" (Andantino) • Variation VII: "Troyte" (Presto) • Variation VIII: "W.N." (Allegretto) • Variation IX: "Nimrod" (Adagio) • Variation X: "Dorabella" (Intermezzo: Allegretto) • Variation XI: "G.R.S." (Allegro di molto) • Variation XII: "B.G.N." (Andante) • Variation XIII: "* * *" (Romanza: Moderato) • Variation XIV: "E.D.U." (Finale: Allegro presto)

Performer Pages DuPage Symphony Orchestra (orchestra)
Barbara Schubert (conductor)
Publisher Info. DuPage, IL: DuPage Symphony Orchestra
Copyright
Misc. Notes Performed 18 November 2012. From archive.org
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Performer Pages Orchestre national de France (orchestra)
Pierre Monteux (conductor)
Publisher Info. Paris: Radiodiffusion-télévision française, 1958.
Reissue Schattdorf: Gagnaux Collection
Copyright
Misc. Notes Recorded September 21, 1958, Septembre Musical de Montreux, Salle du Pavillon (picture on the right: Pierre Monteux, Paris, mai 1952, extract of a PARISENIMAGES photo, Numéro d'image: 3150-4, Numéro d'inventaire: LIP-2250-001)
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Monteux Pierre Paris mai 1952 Lipnitzki RogerViollet 0c6d8d704a96f5b806865678151e24d8 Extrait.jpg
For Piano

Performer Pages Peter Bradley-Fulgoni (piano)
Publisher Info. Peter Bradley-Fulgoni
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Misc. Notes Recorded June 2016 in St. Paul's Hall, Huddersfield University (Peter Hill, sound engineer)
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Performer Pages Luis Kolodin (Piano)
Publisher Info. Luis Kolodin, 2024.
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Var.IX. Adagio "Nimrod"

*For Accordion Orchestra (De Bra)

Publisher Info. Paul De Bra, 2020.
Performers Professor P (Paul De Bra playing all parts on accordions)
Copyright
Misc. Notes Timpani played through Musescore. Arrangement available from this page.
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For Theremin and Synthesizer (Kram)

Publisher Info. Richard Kram
Performers Richard Kram
Copyright
Misc. Notes Playing Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin (over 8DIO Adagietto string samples). Corrected a number of pitches with Waves Tune so I'm putting it under synthesized performance.
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Naxos

Synthesized/MIDI

Var.IX. Adagio "Nimrod"

Publisher Info. Meg Noah, 2024.
Performers Synthesized with Noteflight
Copyright
Misc. Notes The XML and Midi files to create this synthesized music are provided in the 'Scores'
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For Organ (Gouin)
Publisher Info. Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises, 2014
Performers MIDI file by Pierre Gouin
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Sheet Music

Full Scores

Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., 1899.
Reprinted Enigma Variations and Pomp and Circumstance Marches in Full Score
Mineola: Dover Publications, 1992.
Copyright
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Var.IX. Adagio "Nimrod"

Editor Meg Noah
Publisher. Info. Meg Noah, 2024.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Variation IX 'Nimrod' is a popular movement for arranging (e.g, 'The Matrix', 'Lux Aeterna') and the purpose of sharing this digital scan/copy is to provide the community with Engraving Files as a starting point for making arrangements.
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Parts

13 more: Oboe 1/2 • Clarinet 1/2 (B♭) • Bassoon 1/2, Contrabassoon • Horn 1/2, 3/4 (F) • Trumpet 1/2, 3 (F) • Trombone 1/2, 3, Tuba • Small Drum/Triangle, Bass Drum/Cymbals, Timpani • Organ (ad libitum) • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos • Basses

Editor First edition (reprint)
Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., 1899.
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1956).
Copyright
Misc. Notes These files are part of the Orchestra Parts Project.
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5 more: Trumpet 1 (B♭) • Trumpet 2 (C) • Trumpet 2 (B♭) • Trumpet 3 (C) • Trumpet 3 (B♭)

Editor Starkadder
Publisher. Info. Starkadder, 2023.
Copyright
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Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., 1899.
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1956).
Copyright
Misc. Notes In the original, many page turnings are at "attacca" between two variations or with very little time for turning the page, now all pages are turned at more sensible spots. Additionally optimized for biggest possible printing size (use "fit to printable area" when printing).
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Editor Robin Smith
Publisher. Info. Robin Smith, 2024.
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Arrangements and Transcriptions

Complete

For Wind Band (Morrison)

12 more: Flutes 1, 2, 3/Piccolo, Alto Flute • Oboes 1, 2, English Horn • E♭ Clarinet, Solo Clarinet (B♭), Clarinets 1, 2, 3 (B♭) • Alto Clarinet (E♭), Bass Clarinet (B♭) • Soprano Saxophone (B♭), Alto Saxophones 1, 2 (E♭) / Tenor Saxophone (B♭), Baritone Saxophone (E♭) • Bassoons 1, 2, Contrabassoon • Horns 1/2, 3/4 (F) • Cornets 1, 2, 3 (B♭), Trumpets 1/2 (B♭) • Trombones 1, 2, Bass Trombone • Euphonium (bass clef), Euphonium (B♭ treble clef), Tuba, Double bass • Timpani • Percussion (Side drum/Triangle, Bass Drum/Cymbals)

Arranger John Morrison
Publisher. Info. John Morrison, 2012
Copyright
Misc. Notes See notes on instrumentation and performance in the preface to the Complete Score.
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For 2 Violins, 2 Violas and 2 Cellos (Bernstein)

6 more: Violin 1 • Violin 2 • Viola 1 • Viola 2 • Cello 1 • Cello 2

Arranger John Bernstein
Publisher. Info. John Bernstein
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For 2 Pianos (McNaught)
Arranger William Gray McNaught (1849–1918)
Editor Martin van Noord (b. 1960)
Publisher. Info. Martin van Noord, 2021.
Copyright
Misc. Notes New McNaught retype, exactly the same layout
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For Piano 4 hands (West)
Arranger John Ebenezer West (1863–1929)
Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., 1905. Plate 12020.
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For Piano (Elgar)
Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., 1899. Plate 10815.
Copyright
Misc. Notes The original size of these file should be 217*279 (mm).
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Var.IX. Adagio "Nimrod"

For Wind Band (Morrison)
Arranger John Morrison
Publisher. Info. John Morrison, 2013
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Misc. Notes Extracted from the arranger's version of the complete Variations
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For Mixed Chorus and Strings (Falloni)
Arranger Matteo Falloni
Publisher. Info. Matteo Falloni
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For 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns and Double Bass (Clements)
Arranger Patrick Clements (b. 1943)
Publisher. Info. Patrick Clements, 2019
Copyright
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For Timpani, 8 Accordions and Bass Accordion (De Bra)
Arranger Paul De Bra (b. 1959)
Publisher. Info. Paul De Bra, 2018.
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Misc. Notes Only part IX: Nimrod
8 accordion parts, 1 bass, 1 timpani part
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For 6 Cellos (Seymour)
Arranger Gwyn Seymour
Publisher. Info. Gwyn Seymour
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For 2 Violins, Viola and Cello (Berrocal)
Arranger Joseba Berrocal
Publisher. Info. Joseba Berrocal, 2024.
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Misc. Notes NIMROD. Arrangement for String Quartet, in C major. Slurs -by Elgar- regarding musical intentions, not bow directions.
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For 4 Basses (Terré Garcia)
Arranger Marc Terré Garcia (b. 1999)
Publisher. Info. Marc Terré Garcia, 2021.
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For Synthesizer and Theremin (Kram)
Arranger Richard Kram
Publisher. Info. Richard Kram
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Misc. Notes For Theremin, but I guess violin would work too. Not an exact arrangement. Added an introduction so thereminist can get their bearings (assume using pitch preview of some sort).
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For Organ (Gouin)
Arranger Pierre Gouin - Contact
Publisher. Info. Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises, 2010
Copyright
Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection.
Arranged from the original orchestra score.
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For Piano
Arranger Composer
Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Co., Ltd., 1899. Plate 10815.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Extract from piano arrangement of complete Variations.
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For Piano (Grainger)
Arranger Percy Grainger (1882–1961)
Publisher. Info. London: Bardic Edition, n.d.
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Var.X. Intermezzo: Allegretto "Dorabella"

For Orchestra (composer)

11 more: Flute 1/2 • Oboe 1/2 • Clarinet 1/2 (B♭) • Bassoon 1/2 • Horn (1)/2 (F) • Timpani • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos • Basses

Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Company, Limited, 1901. Plate 10939.
Copyright
Misc. Notes Extracted from the complete Variations and republished unchanged as "Intermezzo: for small orchestra (wood-wind, drums and strings)"
It follows that the complete score shows other instruments that do not play in this variation. The (2nd and only) horn part consists of only two notes, so the composer directs "In the absence of Corni, these two notes may be played by Viole."
The score has date 1901 but no plate number. The parts have plate no.10939 but no date.
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For Piano
Arranger Composer
Publisher. Info. London: Novello & Company, Limited, 1901. Plate 10815.
Copyright
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General Information

Work Title Variations on an Original Theme
Alternative. Title Enigma Variations
Name Translations Variações Enigma; Variácie Enigma; Variations Enigma; 수수께끼 변주곡; Variaciones Enigma; [16 more...]อีนิกมาแวริเอชันส์; Variacions Enigma; Enigma-variációk; Variazioni su un tema originale; Enigma-Variationen; エニグマ変奏曲; Enigmavariaties; Enigmavariasjonene; واریاسیون‌های چیستان; Энигма-вариации; Енігма-варіації; 謎語變奏曲; 谜语变奏曲; Enigmavariationer; Enigmavariationerna; וריאציות אניגמה
Name Aliases Variations Enigma d'Elgar; 謎変奏曲; 謎の変奏曲; Enigma Variaties; 《謎語》變奏曲
Authorities WorldCat; Wikipedia; VIAF: 179135538; SUDOC: 109135547; BNF: 139118719
Composer Elgar, Edward
Opus/Catalogue NumberOp./Cat. No. Op.36
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IEE 91
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 15 sections:
Theme (Andante)
Variation I. L'istesso tempo "C.A.E."
Variation II. Allegro "H.D.S-P."
Variation III. Allegretto "R.B.T."
Variation IV. Allegro di molto "W.M.B."
Variation V. Moderato "R.P.A."
Variation VI. Andantino "Ysobel"
Variation VII. Presto "Troyte"
Variation VIII. Allegretto "W.N."
Variation IX. Adagio "Nimrod"
Variation X. Intermezzo: Allegretto "Dorabella"
Variation XI. Allegro di molto "G.R.S."
Variation XII. Andante "B.G.N."
Variation XIII. Romanza: Moderato "* * *"
Variation XIV. Finale: Allegro Presto "E.D.U."
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1899
First Performance. 1899-06-18 in London, St. James Hall.
Orchestra, Hans Richter (conductor)
First Publication. 1899 - London: Novello
Dedication "To my friends pictured within" (e.g. Winifred Norbury (W.N.), R. P. Arnold (R.P.A.), George Robertson Sinclair (G.R.S.), etc.)
Average DurationAvg. Duration 32 minutes
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Romantic
Piece Style Romantic
Instrumentation orchestra
InstrDetail [more...]
2 flutes (2nd also piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon
4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
timpani, triangle, small drum, cymbals, bass drum, organ (ad lib.), strings
Discography MusicBrainz
All Music Guide
Wikipedia
External Links Wikipedia article
Elgar Society