My Friends Pictured Within The subjects of the Enigma Variations as portrayed in contemporary photograhs and Elgar's manuscript

Description:

An attractive illustrated booklet presenting the individuals portrayed in Edward Elgar's celebrated Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma Variations), Op. 36, with contemporary portraits, biographical notes and facsimile extracts from the composer's manuscript. The photographs reproduce portraits displayed at Elgar's birthplace, the cottage at Broadheath, near Worcester. The descriptive notes were originally written by Elgar to accompany the Aeolian Company's pianola rolls of the variations, issued in 1929, with additional material on Nimrod drawn from notes prepared by the composer for a memorial concert dedicated to his close friend A.J. Jaeger. The booklet provides a fascinating insight into the friends, family members and acquaintances represented only by the initials and titles of the variations, and is an appealing period item associated with one of the best-known works in the English orchestral repertoire.

The booklet is undated, but was published posthumously by Novello, generally assigned to 1946. The earlier date of 1929, sometimes cited, refers to the original pianola rolls rather than the publication of this booklet. (M. Smith, ‘Friends Revisited’, The Elgar Society Journal, Vol. 16, No. 2 (2009), pp. 5-22.)

Condition

Orig. wrappers, some wear. Good.