Tuesday 27 October 2009

Variations

The notion of variation is central to the process of musical development, but what about the so-called variation form (Goldberg Variations, Diabelli Variations, Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale, Variations on a Theme of Handel, Paganini Variations, Variations on a Roccoco Theme, Enigma Variations, etc.); how does it work, what are its main features?

This week we examine the final movement of the Brahms Quintet: marked Con moto it consists of a theme, five variations and a coda.

Meanwhile, here is another set of variations on a Paganini theme used (famously) by both Brahms (Op. 35) and Rachmaninov (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini): Enrico Pace and Igor Roma play Lutoslawski's Paganini variations – they’re great fun!



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