Interesting stuff Nimrod.
How long have you been researching this and when did you come to that conclusion?

How long have you been researching this and when did you come to that conclusion?

I started researching this in April 2007 when I heard about the enigma on public radio, Performance Today. Fred Child, the host, said gave Elgar's 189 clues and said Elgar was surprised that no one had solved the enigma because "it was so simple and well known."
I said laughingly to myself, "if it is simple, maybe I can do it." Sure enough as I thought about it, I surmised that the EV being about his "circle" of friends could be related to a geometric circle. I have always believed that "music is mathematics made audible." So I figured maybe Pi, a constant in all circles, could be involved some how. Having sung in choirs for many years, I was familiar with scales as do-re-me-fa, or similarly 1-2-3-4. I tried silently singing Pi to myself after I went to bed, and realized that 3-1-4-2 was the beginning of the EV. Eureeka. I was excited. I told a few people and they suggested that I needed more proof, so for the past 3 years I have been researching and writing and trying to get my solution published. Wikipedia requires that the info be from a peer reviewed journal before they will consider adding it. Finally, it has been accepted for publication due out any day. I found a lot of interesting things along the way and it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. (I am a retired chemical engineer.) I'll bet you are sorry you asked. Ha Ha. :) :)

I'm going to be honest with you. My knowledge of classical music is only passing to say the least, outside of a layman's appreciation for Mozart, Holst, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven etc.
I find the lives of the characters of the classical world fascinating though and Elgar was no exception.
And I am aware of his enigma and the mystery that's surrounded it all these years, along with the previously proposed solutions like Rule Britannia.
You make a convincing argument and it looks like you've ticked all the clue boxes too.

I can imagine, if you're right, that your findings could make a big splash amongst classical music fans.
How is this being received?

Thanks for your positive comments. I do not want to say that I am "right'" however, I believe the facts speak for themselves. You are one of the few people who noticed that Pi fits all of the clues... and a few more.

The big splash, that you and I might expect, is not happening . It has taken a year or more to find someone who would publish my journal article. Several people have been more than a little beligerent, including some in the Elgar Society. Although another member of the Society was very helpful and enthusiastic until some senior "officials" got to him. He can no longer speak to me about it. Crazy, but many people feel threatened by the solution being Pi. They are fearful that removing the mysticism from the EV will hurt their clubs, museums, and general regard for Elgar's music. Personally, I think knowing the solution enhances Elgar's reputation for creativity, and the great music speaks for itself.

Thanks for your interest. :)

Well, I suppose you'll be hard pressed to get anyone to commit to your being right, simply because nobody has any real way of knowing for sure.
Especially as Elgar took the answer with him to his grave.

What I do know about Elgar as an individual, is that he'd be laughing his bollocks off at the stuffiness of these so called "society officials", seeing as he had a sense of humour which these people obviously seem to lack.

Who knows. Given time your thesis may be accepted as theory and become the most likely and popular explanation.
Good luck. :)

Well since there is no official body to declare "correctness" of any solution, I doubt if it will ever be proclaimed as "solved". However, I am convinced that Elgar's 1929 comments, made when he was 72 and no one had solved his enigma for 30 years, are the key. He wrote three sentences, each of which has a connection to 22/7, fractional Pi. I just find that to be overwhelming evidence that he wanted people to know that the enigma was Pi.

Thanks again for your comments. I must admit I am impressed with your knowledge of Elgar, his enigma, and human nature. You have made this whole experience much more of a pleasure. I can understand why you have so many "friends" on this forum.:wave::wave::wave:

I only happen to know certain things about him due to the English school I attended.
The forms were named after various noteworthy Brits.
Nelson, Fleming, Livingstone, Wren etc.
Elgar was amongst them too and the school insisted we researched as much about these individuals as was possible.
It's been a habit of mine ever since. The lives of great men can be equally, if not more interesting and impressive than their achievements.

I am pleased to report that "Solving Elgar's Enigma" is now printed in the most recent edition of Current Musicology published by Columbia University.

Thanks again for your encouragement!