3 Enigma Variations (414.01.Pk ad lib) (The Enigma Variations was the first work to establish Elgar as a composer of international repute. Written in 1899 it portrays in music he charters of his friends, his wife and, in the finale, himself. The three presented here are friends of very differing personalities. Troyte is brusque and to the point; WN is cultured and elegant; Nimrod, a mythical hunter, was a play on words by Elgar: this variation shows his publisher friend Jaeger (German for hunter) in serious and meditative mood. Performance notes: Troyte: the lower trombones and tuba should play with light articulation in order to keep in tempo. The 1st trumpet will need a small trumpet. Observe Elgar’s carefully marked expressions. WN: make sure the tempo is not slow and allow the music to flow elegantly with no trace of angularity, in spite of the twisting shapes of the phrases. Accents should be more of an emphasis than a hard attack. At A keep it very light in style and make the difference back to the more cantabile music at bar 15. Nimrod: solemn but not too slow, allow the phrases to have shape. The trumpets in the opening bars should only colour the flugel sound but take the lead at A. If the 1st trumpet feels uncomfortable with the last bars, take the alternative. It this is done the 2nd trumpet should also play the alternative notes.)
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