Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma', Op.36

Elgar's orchestral showpiece originated from a simple piano improvisation, inspired by a day of teaching violin. After his wife Alice encouraged him to repeat the theme, he created variations that served as musical portraits of their friends, ultimately expanding the work into a full composition. Premiered in 1899, it quickly gained popularity and remains a staple in orchestral repertoire. This digitally-restored score is a reissue of the original 1899 publication, ensuring readability and supporting music preservation through donations to IMSLP.