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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6851

On Radio 4

Is there a more beautiful piece of music..?....possibly ...but when you're listening to it you would be forgiven for thinking there isn't.

Nimrod
Soul Music,Series 21

Edward Elgar's incomparable Nimrod, and the part it plays in people's lives, is explored this week:

Composed as part of the Enigma Variations in the latter part of the 19th century, Nimrod was inspired by Elgar's friend and music editor, Augustus Jaeger.

In an interview for this programme, Jaeger's granddaughter, Gillian Scully, talks about her grandfather and describes hearing her own granddaughter playing Nimrod at a school concert.

It wasn't what Elgar intended, but Nimrod is now - and, probably, forever - associated with Remembrance. The Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch - National Chaplain to the Royal British Legion - talks about hearing it played at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall stirring memories of his own father who died in WW2, and serving as a reminder of all those lost or injured in war.

Margaret Evison's son, Lieutenant Mark Evison of the Welsh Guards, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Nimrod played an important part in his funeral which was held at The Guard's Chapel in London.

For Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive of the charity Turning Point, Nimrod is a piece that reminds him of his father and the struggles he had as a Nigerian immigrant to the UK.

Composer and conductor, Paul Spicer, plays through Nimrod at the piano exploring why it is a piece that stirs such deep emotions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ry20g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhnMd1Jl7SA

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

My favourite classical composer of all time - and British of which we should all be proud Very Happy

Thanks for the post Becky - I'll certainly be giving it an enthusiastic listen

The whole Enigma Variations are superb but his brilliant Cello Concerto for me is one of greatest pieces of music ever written and I listen to it regularly when driving through the beautiful British countryside Smile

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Are you ready for a Ruddles?

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:50 pm Post subject:

Oooh, I shall listen to that. I remember Nimrod at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2012. Stirring stuff. And then Hans Zimmer uses it brilliantly in Dunkirk.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6851