Elgar Enigma Variations  Edward Elgar composed his Variations on
an Original Theme for Orchestra ("Enigma"), Op. 36, commonly
referred to as the Enigma Variations, in 1898–99. It is a set of
fourteen variations on a hidden "theme" that is, in Elgar's
words, "not played". It is Elgar's best-known large-scale
composition, for both the music itself and the enigma behind it.
Elgar dedicated the piece to "my friends pictured within", each
variation being an affectionate portrayal of one of his circle
of close acquaintances. See Musical cryptogram. The people
portrayed in the variations include Elgar's wife Alice, Augustus
J. Jaeger and Elgar himself. The enigma is the hidden theme,
which has been the subject of much speculation. Various
musicians have proposed theories for what melody it could be,
although Elgar did not say that that his "theme" was a melody.
The enigma could be something else, such as a symbol or a
literary theme. Elgar accepted none of the solutions proposed in
his lifetime, and took the secret