Evening star., 1939-09-17
By Alice Eversman.

COMPOSERS from time to time have
had their little musical Jokes. and
In this months release Of the Victor
Co. is one by Sir Edward Elgar,
Enigma Variations" No one could
trap the composer into an explana-
ton of what his theme meant or was
taken from, but the dedication, ITO
my frineds pictured Within" and the
Initials attached to each variation,
was easily comprehensive. What
ever may be the source of the theme
itself, it is evident that Sir Edward
wished to portray amusing or out
standing characteristics of his
friends in musical form. The re-
cording is played by the B. B. C..
Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian
Boult.
Apart from its intent, the work is
one of Cigars greatest from an in
spirational standpoint. 1t is suavely
written, colorful In its descriptive
means, with no effort at cheap ef-
fects, even when most humorously
intended. His stressing of certain
instruments Of the orchestra is in
dicative of the composers wide
knowledge Of their potentialities.
Gain Immortality.
The work opens with movement
dedicated to his wife, and through
the IA variations men and women
who were associates of his daily life
are here given immortality in mu-
sic. One of the loveliest variations
is No. 8. portrait of Winifred Nor
bury, and finely contrasting one,
that devoted to Arthur Troyte Crit
fifth, the architect of the composer S
home. Hearing this work makes one
still more conscious of the great
talent of this British composer and
also how seldom his writings receive
their full recognition by conductors
In opposition to Cigars musical
picture of his acquaintances is Res
pighi's Fountains of Rome" which
also is released this month, per-
formed by the Philharmonic SYM
phony Orchestra, with John Bar
birolli directing. Here the renowned
Italian composer has put into i'm
perishable form the lovely music OF
the fountains of the Eternal City
choosing particular time of day for
each to further enhance the effec-
tive description. Thus the first move
ment is The Fountain of Vale
Giulia at Dawn; the second, The
Triton Fountain in the Morning"
The Fountain of Trevi at Midday,
for the third, and The Villa Medic
Fountain at Sunset" for the finale
Those who know the famous foun.
tains of the Italian capital or know
of them will delight in this picture
glowing with the warmth Of native
sons affection and the natural gift
for theatrical effect, which is Sc
prominent an Italian characteristic
| 1t is beautiful music, the first of 6
series of three, the second of which
The Pines of Rome" is perhaps the
most popular. 1t was composed ir
1916 and first performed by Tosca.
mini in Rome two years later.
Have Major Interest.
Two other recordings of major in
terest are the posthumous Schuber
Sonata in A Major" played by Ar
thur Schnabel, and the Mozart-Lisz
Don Juan Fantasy" here performed
by Simon Barer.
Arthur Schnabel brings all his fin'
musicianship to the Interpretation
Of this sonata, one of three composed
in the month of September, 1928
They were published several year.
after the composers death and con
trary to his desire to dedicate then
to Hummel, were inscribed by th'
publishers to Robert Schumann. Th'
sonata is less spontaneous than th'
songs or other works that stem from
earlier years, yet one comes agair
to that marvellous melodic gift o