Conducting the Elgar Enigma Variations

Book excerpt: Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations is a compositional masterpiece that gained him recognition as one of England's most beloved composers. Enigma Variations propelled the composer from musical obscurity to England's high society, and was praised by contemporary musical luminaries such as Hans Richter and Richard Strauss. In addition to earning Elgar a knighthood and recognition among the general public, Variations is a seminal work with a place in every major orchestras standard repertoire. In particular, Variation IX (Nimrod) has become an audience favorite across the globe, and can be heard in countless film and TV soundtracks. This thesis will detail the process of preparing and performing Elgar's masterwork with the CSUN Youth Orchestra Philharmonic. Areas of focus include a historical and thematic description of the piece, effective score study techniques, and rehearsal and performance issues unique to Enigma Variations. Rehearsals were conducted through the early spring of 2017, and the performance took place on March 5, 2017 at Plaza Del Sol on the campus of California State University Northridge. This performance was done in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting under the supervision of Dr. John Roscignio.