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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Enigma Variations
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(1899) The name commonly used for *Elgar's orchestral Variations on an Original Theme, because the word 'enigma', printed at the head of the first of 14 variations, poses two riddles. One is a well-known tune which, according to Elgar, goes with the music but is not played. It has been much guessed at, with *Auld Lang Syne emerging as the favourite. The other is the identity of 'my friends pictured within', to whom the work is dedicated and each of whom is depicted in one of the subsequent 13 variations. Hinted at in the score by initials or nicknames, they have all been identified. The friends were together pictured on the stage in 1968 in Enigma Variations, a ballet to Elgar's music by *Ashton.
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