NIMROD from Enigma Variations, opus 36
Instrumentation brass sextetSir Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934) was probably the mostprominent English composer of the turn of this century. He had no formalmusical training but came from a musical family; his father played organ at St. George's Roman Catholic Church in Worcester and owned a music store. Hebegan composing at the age of ten for a family play. One of his most beloved works is Variations on an Original Themeknown popularly as Enigma Variations - written for orchestra. The enigmaconcerns aspects of the theme itself, what its meaning is and also the identity ofanother, unstated theme that overshadows the variations yet is never actuallyplayed. The fourteen variations were concieved as character sketches of Elgarsfriends and family, including himself and his wife. Nimrod is a nickname thatElgar had for his friend and publisher, A. J. Jaeger. Jaeger means "hunter" ingerman and Nimrod is a mighty hunter of the Old Testament Bible.
Scott Hartman received his BM and MM degrees from the EastmanSchool of Music and began his career by joining the Empire Brass Quintetand the Boston University faculty in 1984. As a trombone soloist and withhis various chamber ensembles, Scott has taught and played concerts in allfifty United States and throughout the world. Mr. Hartman presentlyperforms and records with Proteus 7, the Millennium Brass, the Brass Bandof Battle Creek, the Yale Brass Trio and the trombone quartet - Four of aKind. Scott heads the trombone departments at Yale University. More information concerning Mr. Hartman and his present activitiesis available at his website www. slushpump. com
