Enigma variations - Edward Elgar (deel II)

[postlink]http://dagendauwsnotenbalk.blogspot.com/2011/09/enigma-variations-edward-elgar-deel-ii.html[/postlink]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WFL06es-HIendofvid [starttext] N° 8 - 11

VIII. W.N. (allegretto; 0:00), Winifred Norbury, a gracious and gentle friend, hence the relatively relaxed atmosphere. At the end of this variation, a single violin note is held over into the next variation, the most celebrated of the set. The gentle chirping of the flutes, wonderfully contrasted by the plucking of the strings, paints a most gracious person.

IX. Nimrod (andante; 1:55), Augustus Jaeger, Elgar's close friend. It is said that this variation, as well as an attempt to capture what Elgar saw as Jaeger's noble character, depicts a night-time walk the two of them had, during which they discussed the slow movements of Ludwig van Beethoven. The first eight bars resemble, and have been said to represent, the beginning of the second movement of Beethoven's Eighth Piano Sonata (Pathetique). The name of the variation cunningly refers to an Old Testament patriarch described as a mighty hunter, the name Jaeger being German for hunter. Though certainly the most celebrated of all the variations, I find myself admiring, rather than truly enjoying it, unlike, for example, the previous variation.

X. Dorabella (allegretto; 5:57), Dora Penny, whose infectious laugh is depicted in a repeated line for the the woodwinds.

XI. G.R.S. (allegro di molto; 8:33), George Sinclair, an organist. More specifically, the variation also depicts Sinclair's bulldog Dan, and a walk by the River Wye with Sinclair and Elgar when Dan fell into the river: one can actually see the dog running back and forth to and away from his master in a frenzy... and then falling into the water.  [endtext]

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