All I wish to add to the Elgar discussion is to say that the Enigma
Variations should surely rest with "the greatest music ever written" awards
- if such awards were ever given out. Elgar has a distinctive use of
harmony which makes the variation "Nimrod" so unique.
To be honest, Elgar is also one of the few British composers that I enjoy.
Most of my favourite composers are of German origin - Bach, Mozart,
Beethoven, Brahms for example.
Philippa