Elgar's Enigma Theme with Pergolesi's Stabat Mater

Ed Newton-Rex recently proposed Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" as the hidden melody to Elgar's Enigma Theme.

For his melodic solution to be correct, it must play "through and over" the full nineteen bars of the Enigma Theme. Superimposing Pergolesi's melody above the complete and intact Enigma Theme fails to realize a credible contrapuntal fit, even when accommodating the Enigma Theme's alternating minor and major modes. To learn more about the extensive flaws of this purported solution, read "Disproving Ed Newton-Rex’s Enigma Theory."

[joemaffei]

The Ein Feste Burg theme fits surprisingly well but, if it is the mystery theme, then Elgar made some uninteresting choices in regards to harmony, especially in the rallentando before the last few bars. The Stabat Mater really sounds like a slam dunk to me.

[RobertPadgett]

Unlike other videos on this topic, the comments section is not disabled.

[matteobaldoni]

If it works so badly on the theme I wonder how bad it fits the variations

[amielschotz]

This solution works pretty well as do one or two more . But Elgar said the hidden melody “never” heard would be instantly recognizable—to whom? To an English ear. Doesn’t that tend to rule out Pergolesi? So Rule Britannia may have my vote, listen to the “never never never shall be slaves” bit. On the other