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Kenneth Young  

Variations on a Prayer

 Year: 2010
for piano duet

Edwin Carr  

Variations on a Theme by Beethoven

Duration: 07' 00" Year: 1992
for piano

Lyell Cresswell  

Variations on a Theme by Charles Ives

Duration: 12' 00" Year: 1987
for flute and cello

David Farquhar   Dorothea Franchi   Douglas Lilburn   Ronald Dellow   Ronald Tremain  

Variations on a Theme by Douglas Lilburn

 Year: 1948
Theme and variations for solo piano

Nigel Keay  

Variations on a theme from "At the Hawk's Well"

Duration: 09' 00" Year: 2002
for violin, cello and piano

Thomas Goss  

Variations on a Young Violinist

Duration: 11' 30" Year: 2003
solo violin and string orchestra

  • Programme Note

    Variations on a Young Violinist has the standard form of the classical “theme-and-variations” model. Yet it explores and modifies more than just the ubiquitous theme from Niccolò Paganini’s 24th Caprice, which is stated at the opening. The work also illustrates the varying moods and mindsets of being a young musician, with anxiety, exuberance, melancholy, awe, frustration, hilarity, determination, and giddiness being just a few of the emotional textures that dictate the character of individual sections.

    The strings state the theme with terse simplicity before giving way to the solo violin, which banters the melody about with double-stops and bravura swoops and dives. A dancey variation follows with rustling pizzicati supporting a pensive, expanding soliloquy. Rustle becomes bustle with a rhythmically ambiguous tear through the strings. A savage gesture segues to the next variation, alternately suspending and unleashing the nervous energy inherent in the theme. The solo violin now takes a lead role as Paganini’s motive is twisted by a spooky, anguished waltz, exalted in a calm, heartfelt hymn, and saddled in a racing moto perpetuo. There is even a sassy, bluesy turn to the proceedings before the final elegy brings the work to bittersweet, reverent close.

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John Wells  

Variations on Adeste Fideles

 Year: 1998
for organ pedals

Eric Biddington  

Variations on an English Nursery Rhyme

Duration: 03' 00" Year: 2007
for treble recorder and piano