Buzz
Edward Elgar, a composer known for his love of mystery, created a sense of intrigue in his music. His iconic piece, the Enigma Variations, is one of his most famous works. Elgar famously stated, 'The enigma I will not explain—its ‘dark saying’ must be left unguessed.' While not all great composers embraced ambiguity as Elgar did, many mysteries remain in the realm of baroque and classical music—whether through the music they composed or the enigmatic events of their own lives. This list delves into the puzzling stories surrounding some of history's greatest musical minds over the centuries.
10. Couperin’s Enigmatic Barricades
In a fitting start to a list of musical mysteries, we begin with a composition that openly declares its mysterious nature, yet the true meaning behind its title has never been definitively determined. François Couperin’s 1717 harpsichord composition Les Barricades Mysterieuses has sparked endless speculation regarding the exact meaning of the 'mysterious barricades' referenced in the title.
Some have theorized that the 'barricades' could symbolize tangible objects like women’s clothing, masks worn during a royal performance of Couperin’s work, or even freemasonry. However, others believe that the barricades represent something more abstract, such as emotional states. In the end, Couperin left no written explanation of his intentions, meaning this riddle will likely remain unsolved.
9. Bach’s Goldberg Variations
One of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most celebrated works is the collection known as the Goldberg Variations, but the origins of this piece and the reason behind its title remain shrouded in mystery. Were they truly composed to aid Count Kaiserling’s insomnia, as long rumored, or was there another explanation?
For years, it was believed that the name 'Goldberg' in the title of the work referred to Count Kaiserling’s personal harpsichordist, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who was expected to perform the variations. However, some scholars have debunked the connection between Kaiserling, Goldberg, and the piece, pointing out that Goldberg was only 13 years old when Bach composed the variations. Thus, one of Bach’s most iconic works may also remain one of his greatest mysteries.
8. Mozart’s Requiem
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart remained dedicated to composing music until the final moments of his life on December 5, 1791. The piece he was working on was his Requiem, which he unfortunately could not finish. The Lacrimosa was the last section he worked on, leaving the rest of the composition unfinished. This has sparked speculation regarding how much of the final section was actually written by Mozart himself.
After Mozart's passing, his widow, Constanze, sought out a composer to help complete the work using the notes Mozart had left behind. His friend Franz Xaver Sussmayer took on the task, but the fact that Sussmayer added his own handwritten notes over Mozart’s original outline has raised questions about how much of the final composition reflects Mozart’s original ideas versus Sussmayer’s creative contributions.
7. Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved
“My angel, my all.” This is how one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most famous love letters begins, and it remains one of the greatest mysteries of his life. Beethoven wrote this letter to a woman he was involved with, calling her his “Immortal Beloved,” yet he never revealed her name, sparking decades of speculation about who this mysterious woman might be.
The mystery of the 'Immortal Beloved' even inspired a 1993 film starring Gary Oldman as Beethoven, where a friend of the composer embarks on a quest to uncover the woman's identity. The movie proposes that Beethoven's sister-in-law, Johanna, was his beloved, but this theory is widely disputed due to their well-known mutual animosity. Many other theories have been suggested, but the question remains unsolved.
6. Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony
Franz Schubert was only 31 when he passed away in 1828, but in his short life, he composed a significant body of work. However, one composition that was never completed has become a subject of ongoing debate since it was first revealed. Schubert’s eighth symphony is one of classical music’s most famous unfinished pieces, and the question of why he couldn’t finish it remains unresolved.
Speculation has suggested that Schubert's inability to complete the symphony might be due to poor health, despite the fact that he did finish other works written after it. The symphony also went unperformed for many years after Schubert’s death, raising further questions about why it took so long to be publicly acknowledged. Schubert’s eighth symphony thus remains a work that continues to provoke discussion.
5. Schumann’s Cryptograms
It has been suggested that Robert Schumann had a fascination with the mysterious, which is evident in his interest in cryptography. Many instances of musical ciphers can be found in his compositions. In the 1960s, writer Eric Sams published two in-depth articles claiming that Schumann's works contain numerous codes and cryptograms. Additionally, other scholars have pointed out cryptographic allusions in his composition Carnaval, which references the town of Asch, where Schumann’s fiancée was living at the time.
However, since Schumann left no notes explaining or clarifying whether these supposed ciphers were intentional, the question of whether he consciously incorporated these enigmatic codes remains one we are unlikely to definitively answer.
4. Tchaikovsky’s Demise
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s death in 1893 was officially attributed to kidney failure, but the exact cause of this failure has been a topic of much debate. Some believe it resulted from cholera, allegedly contracted from drinking contaminated water. Others have speculated that it may have been a suicide or reckless behavior linked to a suicidal mindset, triggered by rumors that the tsar was about to publicly reveal one of Tchaikovsky's affairs. There are even those who suggest Tchaikovsky was murdered in connection with these rumors.
However, it's worth noting that rumors of suicide or murder only surfaced several weeks after Tchaikovsky’s death, not immediately afterward, leading some to believe they may have been nothing more than gossip without solid evidence. Still, this remains an ongoing source of speculation.
3. Sibelius’s Destroyed Eighth Symphony
Jean Sibelius created a wide range of compositions throughout his life, many of which have garnered significant attention. However, one piece has sparked much debate due to its disappearance—the eighth symphony, which Sibelius seems to have deliberately destroyed. According to his wife, during the 1940s, Sibelius burned several manuscripts at their home, and it's believed that the eighth symphony was among those that went up in flames.
The reasons behind this destruction remain uncertain. Was the symphony deeply personal, making Sibelius hesitant to share it with the world? Or was it an experimental work, too avant-garde for him to release? Since the symphony was destroyed, the true motivations for its loss will remain a mystery.
2. Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk
Dmitri Shostakovich's time in the Soviet Union is shrouded in mystery, particularly regarding both his personal actions and the government's view of him. A key example of this enigma is his opera, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Whether Shostakovich intended to be provocative is unclear, but the opera certainly raised eyebrows when it was personally attended by Stalin in 1936. Following this, the work was swiftly removed from public performances for an extended period.
What led to the authorities' extreme reaction against Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk remains uncertain. However, one theory suggests that Stalin found the central character, Boris, to be an unflattering portrait of himself. Regardless of the reasons, the opera was not staged again until long after Stalin's death.
1. Elgar’s Dorabella Cipher
Edward Elgar's fascination with the mysterious extended beyond the Enigma Variations themselves. Each variation in this famous work was dedicated to one of his close friends, and the 10th variation, Dorabella, connects to another enigma in Elgar's life. The name Dorabella referred to his friend Dora Penny, and in 1897, Elgar sent her a cryptic message, which became known as the Dorabella Cipher.
The message contained 87 markings scattered across three lines in an indecipherable form. Dora Penny could not crack the code, and Elgar never provided a clear answer, either regarding the method to decode it or the meaning behind the message. Despite numerous attempts to solve it, the Dorabella Cipher remains unsolved to this day.
