Nimrod, Enigma Variations. Edward Elgar

[BWFSabian]

christ, thats awful..

[musicandWriting77]

I played this today for Area All State in a symphonic orchestra. A.k.a. all high school students. And we did a pretty darn good job. We almost didn't include it in the program, but our conductor was really surprised at how well we played it. I'm guessing it was about like this... i don't know, cus I was in it- first violin. But ya. We weren't a professional orchestra, but we were still good. It is a very hard piece to play, but worth every bit :)

[Sirpadgett]

The missing principal theme to Elgar's "Enigma Variations" is "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A Mighty Fortress is our God) by Martin Luther. This discovery was made by Robert W. Padgett on February 3, 2009 - the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn's birth. Google "Elgar's Enigma Theme Unmasked" to learn more.

[tin689]

Such great music - and such an awful recording.

[emma5977]

It's a school orchestra! Not the Philharmonic, It was nice to see, though :0

[tin689]

@emma5977 No problem with the school orchestra - I meant the technical "quality" of the recording.

[mattsr]

Isn't it supposed to start QUIETLY??!!???

[bdslds]

Slightly fast but I watched Leonard Bernstein when he conducted it too slowly! Lots of options in music.

[dagdale]

Agreed a wee bit too fast, but most enjoyable.

[moveste]

I think it would be wise to rename this to something like "Elgar's Nimrod by school orchestra".

[gibsonguy625]

i concur

[WOLFSTEINERMANN]

too fast!!!!

[Punmaster]

One of the bass shown in this video is being used by me today.

[Jonnyboy22592]

What a disgrace to Elgar...

[swaparcher]

could be that they just had bad recording instruments... like a digital camera or something else also low-quality.

[Lalala417]

This is not good. Not even for high school. An orchestra of 10-to-15-year-old kids can play better than that. And it is Edward Elgar, not Edvard. Please. Check Wikipedia before you type anything that offends Elgar-fans.

[YogaNate79]

This sounds like a bunch of slop hogs in a muddy pen attempting to play instruments.

This is absolutely awful.

[Cheesetubes]

Horrid.

[fox3087]

Finally, the real deal. The marching band I'm in is playing this as this year's ballad in the show. It sounds so nice, it really fits the theme we placed on this tune, "Love Deeply". It matches well, dosn't it?

[UHSBS2]

do u go to university?

[fox3087]

Yeah dude!! Go Cougars!

[123bugmenot]

@ Tenkhut, he's actually from Worcester not Wolverhampton :-)

ps - this version just made my ears bleed... I'm off to listen to a better version.

[bbc914]

i played in this group - best brass section in a highschool orchestra in north america. by far. thank you very much.

[tap307]

this is great for a high school!

[yamaho5]

Wow! What a nice surprise. Thanks to you great kids and your wonderful conductor for the lovely music and also to Zingraff for sharing this great moment with us. Oklahoma City

[MickeyLove01]

Excellent for a school, violins a little harsh at the start...

[tenkhut]

Who's EdVard? The bloke's from Wolverhampton, not Munchen!

[BaildonLad]

A very nice rendition, well done Toronto High School Oakwood Symphony Orchestra ! Thanks for sharing this with us all

Tim

[mcbill88]

Very well performed for a school orchestra indeed. Must jump in and correct the spelling of Edward Elgar though...

[richmondboyz]

I thought we were good, (St.Ignatius in San Francisco), and we were very good, but in my opinion, you were even better. It brought tears to my eyes, I love that piece, I hope all you sweet kids go on to professional carrers in music, you deserve it. Your conductor/music teacher is a saint. I know you love him.

[yoshiebe]

its not that bad at all. god, its a school, they arent proffesional or anything.

[jldoster]

dynamics??? no?

[cityboy1910]

I've tried to watch this with a positive view... but AAAAAAAAAH, that is way beyond their level.

[thekingofcarryon]

An award winning school orchestra!

[160rpm]

it sounds allright to me

[Roseburg93]

I think it's a great attempt for a school orchestra. People are being too harsh.

[penguin0297]

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

[howdleed]

no the violins are good everthing else is shit but then what do you expect from a school ochestra? its a good attempt though

[BigBillinBigD]

They are the Chicago Sympony not! The conductor is Daniel Barenboim not! Cut them some slack! They must crawl before they walk, and they must walk before they soar. They are doing the best they can in the place they find themselves at the present. All of us can enjoy things a lot more if we don't come to the high school concert expecting to hear the Berlin Philharmonic or the Morman Tabernacle Choir. Just relax and realize that not too many silk purses are made from sow's ears.

[zingraff]

Thank you.

[jspooner123]

that was pretty bad, in my opinion. i feel sad now. listen to the chicago recording!!!!!!! it is so amazing.

[dantehd]

I'm sorry, but you are slightly out of tone and for me the interpretation is way to loud and quite brutal...

[zingraff]

You are a moron.

[Lalala417]

So not a moron.

[Nightyme2002]

Are they 7ths? I thought they were 5ths... but then again I am musically illiterate! Those CSO versions are sublime...

[scottahara]

@purpleiris1987 Upon further examination, you'll discover that this performance was by high school students and not the Chicago Symphony.

[buttercuplizzy]

god i didn't think anyone outside of worcesterhsire new Elgar. I live in malvern (where he lived) and if you don't like him than you get shot in the head. lol.

[320Dave]

...awful.  It would have been a good idea to tune their instruments before they started.

[zingraff]

So nice of you to say. Get a grip dude.

[dejpau3825]

This is the most professional sounding high school orchestra I think I've ever heard.

[bannan61]

Technically very nice indeed. Well done. It just misses that subtle magical phrasing and light and shade that Elgar needs to make it really work. Check out "Tippett conducts Tippett & Elgar 1968" and listen to what Tippett does with the piece. He was great in terms of phrasing and dynamics. He really understood Elgar and his kids responded to him.

[ohsosweet00]

WHAT YEAR WAS THIS?

[zingraff]

1986

[EnigmaComposer]

how did you know it was broadcast to 300 million people?

[zingraff]

The TV crew informed us of the broadcast estimate for their audience at the time.

[SmiertSpionem]

Did the haircuts give it away?

[LaurieStarwars]

It's now 2007. And next year will be 2008.

[12sae62]

the tempo is a little too fast but i think the orchestra played it well. I love this peace it is very beautiful. I wish i could have played this in carnagy hall

[NinjaOfTheNight111]

i like it...we are currently playing it in our orchestra the only think i would have done differently would be dynamics!!!!! it supposed pp an p nothing louder until like the last 10 measures but other than that really really really good. (^-^)

[mahlerianvidz]

ooooo, tuning, but the music was nice

[bluesky81214]

elgar is awesome!

[EruptedSteel]

one of the best pieces peices of romantic music, and the composer was English, what more would you want!

[mattthetrumpeter]

pretty impressive for a high school orchestra, some very good moments. well done.

[jangofett600]

Cool! I am playing that piece right now in my orchestra.

If I had to say something, the eighth notes were rushed.

Still, great performance!

[RomoGreenEyez05]

i guess maybe sounds so out of tune because of the quality of the video...but it's ok...

[pops20vq]

Absolutely stunning! Very moving - Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it!

[zingraff]

I agree. A very beautiful composition. Brings back many great memories, including this remarkable trip to China.

[Englandownunder]

simply the most moving piece of music I have ever heard!! well done Canucks!!!