Theme And Variations
This piece by Frederic Rzewski is a flamboyant example of the "theme and variations" form. There is the initial stated theme (at 0:43 after he finishes thoroughly adjusting the sheet music), and then several variations of that theme follow. This is not quite the same type of theme and variations that would be heard in Mozart's day, in the modern era composers are able to take many more liberties with their variations. In the following video variations begin at 0:54, 1:23, then a transition from 1:51 to 2:00 and into a violent variation which lasts until 2:12 when an airy, abstract variation takes over and so forth... see if you can follow along.
This form always makes me think of the forth movement of Brahms' forth symphony which follows the form: passacaglia. A passacaglia is similar to a theme and variations; A simple bassline is stated, then repeats throughout the entirety of the piece while the accompaniment changes. I have posted this piece before but here it is again... try to hear the repetition in the bass as stated by the low brass in the beginning.
This piece by Frederic Rzewski is a flamboyant example of the "theme and variations" form. There is the initial stated theme (at 0:43 after he finishes thoroughly adjusting the sheet music), and then several variations of that theme follow. This is not quite the same type of theme and variations that would be heard in Mozart's day, in the modern era composers are able to take many more liberties with their variations. In the following video variations begin at 0:54, 1:23, then a transition from 1:51 to 2:00 and into a violent variation which lasts until 2:12 when an airy, abstract variation takes over and so forth... see if you can follow along.
This form always makes me think of the forth movement of Brahms' forth symphony which follows the form: passacaglia. A passacaglia is similar to a theme and variations; A simple bassline is stated, then repeats throughout the entirety of the piece while the accompaniment changes. I have posted this piece before but here it is again... try to hear the repetition in the bass as stated by the low brass in the beginning.
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