The Nimrod (Elgar)

Edward Elgar

Title: Enigma Variation IX (Adagio) “Nimrod"

Composer: Edward Elgar
First Performance at 1899-06-18 
in London, St. James Hall (Conducted by Hans Richter)

Augustus J. Jaeger was employed as music editor by the London publisher Novello & Co. For a long time he was a close friend of Elgar, giving him useful advice, but also severe criticism, something Elgar greatly appreciated. Remarkably, Elgar later related on several occasions how Jaeger had encouraged him as an artist and had stimulated him to continue composing despite setbacks. The name of the variation refers to Nimrod, an Old Testament patriarch described as "a mighty hunter before the Lord" – the name Jäger being German for hunter.

In 1904 Elgar told Dora Penny (“Dorabella”) that this variation is not really a portrait, but "the story of something that happened". Once, when Elgar had been very depressed and was about to give it all up and write no more music, Jaeger had visited him and encouraged him to continue composing. He referred to Ludwig van Beethoven, who had a lot of worries, but wrote more and more beautiful music. “And that is what you must do”, Jaeger said and he sang the theme of the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathétique". Elgar disclosed to Dora that the opening bars of "Nimrod" were made to suggest that theme. “Can’t you hear it at the beginning? Only a hint, not a quotation”.

This variation has become popular in its own right and is sometimes used at British funerals, memorial services, and other solemn occasions. It is always played at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday. A version was also played during the Hong Kong handover ceremony in 1997 and at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Musicologist Bill McGlaughlin likens its place in British music to the place Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings holds for Americans. It was also the last piece ever played by the Greek Symphonical Orchestra (besides the Greek National Anthem) when closed down in June 2013.

Music

Instrumental

• 2 flutes (2nd also piccolo)
• 2 oboes
• 2 clarinets (B flat)
• 2 bassoons
• contrabassoon
• 4 horns (F)
• 3 trumpets (F)
• 3 trombones
• tuba
• timpani
• triangle
• small drum
• cymbals
• bass drum
• organ ad lib.
• I & II violins
• violas
• cellos
• double basses

Nimrod (Leonard Bernstein) video:

Nimrod (Full Score) pdf file:

http://imslp.org/imglnks/usimg/1/1e/IMSLP23792-PMLP07276-Elgar_-_Enigma_Variations__orch._score_.pdf