Lubbock Resident May Have Solution To Elgar's Enigma

I thought circle of friends, it's easy, maybe it's easy as pie Among noted British composer Sir Edward Elgar's more famous works are his " Enigma Variations "- a theme and 14 variations written for orchestra in 1899. via KOHM-FM Lubbock

[dicksanta]

A common approximation of Pi is 22/7, which equals 3.142857. If the first four numbers of Pi, 3-1-4-2, are played on a musical scale, with 1 being the root, 3 being the third, etc., we hear the opening Theme of Elgar's Enigma Variations. Elgar's first four notes are a cipher for Pi.
Elgar dedicated his Enigma Variations to "My Friends Pictured Within." As a "variation" of this, Elgar could have written, "To My Circle of Friends." In math, characteristics of all circles are related by a universal constant, Pi. Only the Pi solution answers all of the clues which Sir Edward gave the world during his lifetime. No other theory addresses the clue, given in 1929, which speaks of "the drop of the seventh." This clue will be shown to be a reference to Pi.
Sir Edward enjoyed ciphers and jokes, both of which are involved in his "Enigma." The "dark saying" could be a clever reference to the line from the very familiar English nursery rhyme, "Four and twenty BLACKbirds baked in a pie/Pi." Blackbirds are certainly dark, and the pun based on Pi is an unmistakable hint.
Pi could easily be described as "the chief character (who) is never on the stage." This 3-1-4-2 theme is the basis for all of the variations and is heard many times throughout the piece, but Pi itself is hidden.
Sir Edward, speaking of the Enigma, told Dora Penny in 1899, "It is so well known that it is extraordinary that no one has spotted it." Pi is universally taught as part of primary education and it is "very well known." Many of the previous theories are quite complex.
In two separate letters written to Dora in 1901, Sir Edward used the first four notes of the Enigma Variations as his signature, giving Dora an extra clue. Then Sir Edward told Dora, "I thought that you of all people would guess it." These first four notes, Enigma Theme, are a simple four-character cipher for Pi, the numbers 3-1-4-2. That is why he thought Dora, of all people, would guess it.
Sir Edward's clue in 1929 was one more reference to Pi. After referring to the opening crotchets and quavers (eleven quarter notes and eighth notes), Sir Edward advises, "the drop of the seventh in the Theme (bars 3 and 4) should be observed." After the first eleven notes there are two drops of a seventh. In other words, 11 notes x 2/7 = 22/7 = the common approximation of Pi. This clue is not addressed by any previous theory.

[Edu]

The trouble with all this speculation is that, if the story is accurate, when Edward was improvising and his wife Alice overheard him play the tune, she remarked "That's a good tune Edward; what is it!" He replied, "Nothing but something might be made of it".

Another explanation someone posited is that the tune that goes along with it is "A Mighty Fortress". I find this absurd since, not only wasn't Elgar a Lutheran (He was Roman Catholic at the time), the tune doesn't fit at all in my opinion except by extreme force!

[Robert Wayne Padgett]

After extensive research and analysis, Robert W. Padgett discovered the missing mystery melody to Elgar's “Enigma Variations”-- "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A Mighty Fortress) by Martin Luther. For the full report by Robert W. Padgett with sheet music and sound files, see http://enigmathemeunmasked.blogspot.com/
Elgar married an Anglican, and his friend Dora Penny pictured within Variation X was Anglican. It was a masterful stroke of genius on the part of a Roman Catholic composer to surreptitiously quote the battle hymn of the Reformation because no one would ever remotely guess" that as a possible solution. No wonder Elgar said the solution to his Enigma must remain "unguessed."
The sound file of Variation IX (Nimrod) with "A Mighty Fortress" played "over and through" it indisputably confirms Mr. Padgett's historic discovery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch...

[Edu]

I stand by my previous statement!