tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391257402954398272.post8386326074175511376..comments2023-08-26T17:01:30.898-07:00Comments on Elgar's Enigma Theme Unmasked: Variation IX (Nimrod) with "Ein feste Burg"Robert Padgetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17803545110225204750noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391257402954398272.post-40944280764997164392011-05-18T05:50:52.376-07:002011-05-18T05:50:52.376-07:00Anonymous insists there can be 150 note matches be...Anonymous insists there can be 150 note matches between “Nimrod” and “Smoke gets in your eyes” without furnishing one iota of evidence in support of such an outlandish assertion. If Anonymous attempts such a mapping, that party would quickly discover it is much easier said than done. In any event, the absence of just such a mapping renders Anonymous’ torpid claim empty and meritless.<br /><br />As for “contrapuntal infractions” in my mapping of “Ein feste Burg” over “Nimrod”, I turn to no higher authority than Elgar himself in my defense. In his first biography published in 1905 by Robert J. Buckley, Elgar is quoted as saying:<br /><br />“You were talking of contrapuntal rules and restrictions. I have gone over them all: marked, learned, and inwardly digested everything available in theoretical instruction I could come across (and I think I have come across most of what has been written); and I cherish a profound respect for the old theorists. They were useful in their day, but they were not entitled to lay down hard and fast rules for all composers to the end of time.”<br /><br />Concerning Elgar’s cavalier attitude towards contrapuntal rules, Elgar’s first biographer observed the following:<br /><br />“I have not given any space to consideration of Elgar’s wanderings from the paths of contrapuntal rectitude, as laid down by the theory formalists. The Roman soldiers tied weights to their sandals when marching for exercise, that by discarding them in time of war they might rejoice in comparative lightness and freedom. So, it would seem, are musicians weighted in the study of strict counterpoint, that in free composition they may derive additional inspiration from the joy of casting the load aside. It may be suggested that Elgar has cast away not only the weights but also the sandals. The sequence of consecutive fifths in ‘The Apostles’ is calculated to make the old theorists uneasy in their graves. But this is only history repeating itself. The Man of Progress is necessarily the Breaker of Laws, and if the Law-breaker is justified by results, we can demand no more.”<br /><br />Anonymous would have been wise to review Elgar’s first biography before commenting, particularly the section referencing his use of parallel fifths. Facts are stubborn things, and Anonymous would benefit from consulting them before commenting.<br /><br />An excellent description of Anonymous’ contribution to this debate is aptly conveyed by the title “Smoke gets in your eyes.” Is it any wonder that bumbling personage posted anonymously?Robert Padgetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803545110225204750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391257402954398272.post-77069101889969401132011-05-17T00:43:07.950-07:002011-05-17T00:43:07.950-07:00There can be 150 melodic and choral note matches b...There can be 150 melodic and choral note matches between "Smoke gets in your eyes" and "Nimrod" but that in itself proves nothing.<br /><br />The resultant voice-leading here is atrocious, e.g. the four consecutive parallel fifths at four bars before reh. 36. You can't wriggle out from under the multiple contrapuntal infractions here by invoking "passing tones." Elgar was no avant-gardiste and his counterpoint was always impeccable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391257402954398272.post-22237784911114018492011-04-02T15:36:39.276-07:002011-04-02T15:36:39.276-07:00While there are a few dissonances present, these r...While there are a few dissonances present, these result invariably from brief but necessary passing tones. What is undeniable is there are 150 melodic and chordal note matches between "Ein feste Burg" and "Nimrod". Such a high number of shared notes is compelling evidence "A Mighty Fortress" is in fact the unstated Principal Theme to Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations.Robert Padgetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803545110225204750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1391257402954398272.post-78436693177531012882011-03-21T10:40:57.183-07:002011-03-21T10:40:57.183-07:00I'm sorry but I think Nimrod and Ein feste Bur...I'm sorry but I think Nimrod and Ein feste Burg sound horrendously dissonant together, and no amount of diagrammatics are going to convince me otherwise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com