New-York tribune., 1920-02-25
Solution Is Found
For Elgar Enigma
After Many Years
Riddle Concealed i'm Theme
and Variations of Com
poser Believed to Be Mel
ody of Motto i'm sParsifal'
By II. E. Krehbiel

on the program of the New Symphony
Orchestra in Carnegie Hall yesterday
afternoon, but they were all master
pieces, and though strongly contrasted in
character, were arranged and played in
manner that captured fancy and feel
ing at once and held them in thrall to
the end. The pieces were Wagner's
Prelude to "Die Meistersinger Won
Nuurnberg," Mozarts Concerto in D
minor for pianoforte (the solo part
played by Miss Guiomar Novaes), and
the "Variations on an Original Theme, -
by Sir Edward Elgar. Nothing new in
this scheme, and yet it provided not
only a great pleasure but also food
for reflection; how much we shall pro-
ceed to explain at once.
he composition by Elgar has been
IN local concert lists for nearly if not
fully twenty years. 1t has been played
deserves, for. in our opinion, it marks
the high tide of its authors creative
imagination, in the instrumental field at
least Whenever it has been played the
program annOtator has called attention
to the fact that it bears a subtitle,
Enigma" and that Sir Edward has
attached to it a comment to the effect
that though in it he had sought to
sketch for their amusement and his
own the idiosvncrasies of fourteen of
his friends, he attached no particular
significance to that fact, and wished the
music to stand as music simply. He
did, however, call attention to the fact
indicated in the sub -title) that he had
buried an enigma in the composition
whose dark saying" must be "left un-
guessed"
Further to pique the curiosity of the
listeners, possibly also the critics, he
added Through and over the whole
set (of variations) another and larger
theme goes but is not played. So the
principal theme never appears, even as
IN some late dramas-e. g., Maeter-
linck's 'L'lntrusc' and 'Des Sept Prin-
cesses-the chief character is new on
the stage" The enigmatic theme was
thus made to appear as itself a varia-
tion Or an outgrowth Of one of those
of no tons,' which to the illogical fan
tasy of Keats seem sweeter than those
which appeal to the sensual ear.
Much brain cudgeling has been
caused by the cryptical utterance, and
no doubt many musicians in listening
to the beautiful work for it is pro-
foundly and loftily beautifuD have
tried to solve the riddle of the un-
sung theme. Mr.. r. J. Buckley, one of
Sir Edwards biographers, as Mr.
Gilman's program note informed US
yesterday, ventured the assertion that
"the theme is a counterpoint in some
well-known melody which is never
heard" MIR. Buckley also said that
the composer at the suggestion Of Dr..
Hans Richter, VINO had received the
score in Vienna before he knew Elgar
personally. He took the work on tour
and with it won England for Elgar, as
thirty years before he had won Eng
land for Wagner with the Tam
hauser" overture.
We confess that We have often tried
to solve the riddle of this musical
Sphinx, but we're always baked by the
belief that the heard theme was in some
way related to a melody Of national
British character Yesterday while lis
tening to the music there came as sus-
pcion, for which we believe we ound
confirmation after look at the theme
in print For US at least the mystery
is dispelled. The enigmatic subject of
the composition is the melody of the
oracuar motto in "Parsifal."
Through pity. knowing,
The blameless fool; =
Wait for him
My chosen tool"
The theme as varied is a counter
point on or parody of this melody.
And now we wonder that the discovery
was not made long ago. 1t may have
been; but we never saw or heard of d
record of the fact.
Mr.. Bodanzky had evidently thrown
himself heart and soul into the prep
aratioa of the composition, and The
performance, despite the handicap of
a somewhat crude and ill-balanced
band, was amazingly lucid and brill
liant. He gave a pompous, albeit
somewhat rapid, reading to Wagner's
Prelude, and an eXquisitely SYM
pathetic accompaniment to the piano
forte concerto, which Miss Novaes
played with crystalline purity through
out and with particularly ravishing
loveliness of tone in the Romanza.
The music will be repeated at this
even infy's concert