›variations on an original theme for orchestra‹, op. 36 [enigma], is a set of a theme and its fourteen variations written for orchestra by Edward Elgar in 1898–1899. he dedicated the piece to »my friends pictured within«, each variation being an affectionate portrayal of one of his circle of close acquaintances.

variation 9 (adagio) ›nimrod‹: augustus j. jaeger, elgar's best friend. an attempt to capture what elgar saw as jaeger's noble character, it is also said that this variation depicts a night-time walk the two of them had, during which they discussed the slow movements of the music of ludwig van beethoven. the first eight bars resemble/represent the beginning of the second movement of beethoven's 8. piano sonata*. the name of the variation refers to nimrod, an old testament patriarch described as »a mighty hunter before the lord« — the name jaeger being german for hunter.

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