Pinned

Edward Elgar’s Enigma and “Like to the Damask Rose”

Zackery Belanger revised 22 October, 2022 Composer Edward Elgar died in 1934.¹ In 1899, his piece entitled Variations, popularly known as the Enigma Variations, was performed for the first time. It was “Dedicated to my friends pictured within”, and comprised a musical theme and fourteen variations, the first thirteen of…

Enigma

9 min read

Enigma

9 min read

Nov 13, 2022

The Dorabella Cipher: a list of plants in the Malvern Hills

A one-page proposed solution to Edward Elgar’s enduring cipher. Notes: To the author’s knowledge, the rose-shaped key has never been explicitly proposed; it is necessary for this potential solution. The Dorabella Cipher image was scanned by the author from: Powell, Mrs. Richard (Penny, Dora). Edward Elgar: Memories of a Variation. 3rd ed, Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1949. Dot 1 on the second line does not appear in any of the four other editions — only the 3rd.

Cryptography

1 min read

Cryptography

1 min read

The Dorabella Cipher: a list of plants in the Malvern Hills

A one-page proposed solution to Edward Elgar’s enduring cipher.

Notes:

To the author’s knowledge, the rose-shaped key has never been explicitly proposed; it is necessary for this potential solution.
The Dorabella Cipher image was scanned by the author from: Powell, Mrs. Richard (Penny, Dora). Edward Elgar: Memories of a Variation. 3rd ed, Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1949. Dot 1 on the second line does not appear in any of the four other editions — only the 3rd.
Pendock Old Church is a one-hour bicycle ride from Forli Malvern, Elgar’s home at the time.
CrypTool 2 was used in this proposed solution.
Edward Elgar often spelled words phonetically in letters.
The author believes the rose-shaped key also solves the Enigma.

May 3, 2020

Brutalism Exposed the Essence of Acoustic Architecture

Every time sound strikes a surface its energy splits in three: reflected, absorbed, and transmitted. The material, shape, and composition of the surface determine the proportions of the split. …

Architecture

3 min read

Architecture

3 min read

Nov 5, 2015

The Rise of Intrinsic Acoustic Design

This essay has been eclipsed by Acoustic Ornament. It has been archived and is no longer available.

Design

1 min read

Design

1 min read

The Rise of Intrinsic Acoustic Design

This essay has been eclipsed by Acoustic Ornament. It has been archived and is no longer available.

Nov 26, 2014

The Sound of EMPAC

An acoustic architecture essay — There is no better way to understand the acoustic soul of a building than to spend thousands of hours within its walls, observing and thinking alongside those who work and create there. The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) opened in 2008 on the campus of…

Architecture

10 min read

Architecture

10 min read

Aug 14, 2014

Reconnecting Time and Place

Continuous Time and the Obsolescence of Time Zones — These ideas were spurred to introduction by pieces from Lloyd Alter and, more recently, Matthew Yglesias. Each make the case that time zones are no longer necessary. Time zones are a compromise from the Industrial Age. When railroads and telegraphs gave us the capacity to travel and communicate over large…

Time

7 min read

Time

7 min read