The work’s origins were described by Elgar in a letter to his friend:
“I have sketched a set of Variations on an original theme…The Variations have amused me because I’ve labelled ’em with the nicknames of my particular friends…That is to say I’ve written the variations each one to represent the mood of the ‘party’…it’s a quaint idee & the result is amusing to those behind the scenes…”
Indeed, unfamiliarity with the originals sketched by Elgar does not detract from the listener’s enjoyment of Elgar’s music, though deeper knowledge of the composer’s intentions adds a measure of humor that the casual listener might miss.
The best known of the variations is the serene Variation No. 9, identified by the composer as “Nimrod.” The name is a play on words, as the biblical Nimrod was a great hunter, and the German word meaning “hunter” is “Jaeger”. This lyrical movement portrays a warm conversation between the composer and his friend Jaeger, who by Elgar’s account, offered valuable artistic guidance throughout a long partnership.
Here is the late Georg Solti to conduct this music for you:
