theme and variations suggestions?

[Tash]

i want to play a nice set of variations, which is all well and good, except i'm not sure what to pick- as a result of not knowing half the ones that are out there and whether they're too hard/too easy for me. so i was wondering if i could possibly get some suggestions, preferably from the classical or romantic periods that are some kind of diploma level standard that are probably no longer than about 12 minutes. i'm listening to the schumann abegg variations at the moment which are quite nice...

[Kassaa]

Brahms Paganini, book one or two. They both pwn.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Alkan Festin d'esope (about nine mins long, humorous, but technically demanding). Not that the previous suggestion isn't technically demanding either..

[thalbergmad]

How about the Rubinstein-yankee Doodle Dandy.

Must be good for a laugh.

[quantum]

Chopin Op. 2 Variation on Mozart's "La ci darem".  There's a solo piano version somewhere.

Mendelssohn Variation Serieuses

[kriskicksass]

For theme and variations look no further than late Beethoven. I'd recommend the third movement of opus 109. It's set beautifully in the traditional classical theme and variations form, but it contains some of Beethoven's most emotional and pianistic (!) work.

[ryguillian]

Kaikhosru Sorabji's "Sequentia cyclica super 'Dies irae'"?—just kidding!

A few that come to mind (admittedly not Romantic or Classical):

Rzewski's "The People United Will Never Be Defeated" (based on the Chilean revolutionary song "¡El pueblo unidos jamás será vencido!")

Ives: "Variations on 'America'". (apparently this work is for organ; perhaps there's an arangement for piano.)

—Ryan

[Motrax]

I recently read through some of Schumann's Variations on a Theme by Clara Schumann, Op. 5. It doesn't seem to be very difficult, and it's an absolute gem. I haven't actually heard the piece, aside from my skimming it, though, so I'm unsure of its length. I'd guess it to be around 10 minutes long. One of Schubert's Impromtus is in the form of a theme and variations, and is about 8 minutes long.

Most of my favorite variations pieces (Schumann's Symphonic Etudes, Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme by Corelli, Brahms' Handel Variations) are quite a bit longer than 12 minutes, unfortunately.

[arensky]

Schubert Impromptu in Bb, op.142 #3

[perfect_pitch]

Mendelssohn Variation Serieuses

I'd do his variations in D minor - That is one of the best I think. I think it is 10 - 12 variations ind minor - Worth having a go at.

[stevie]

godowsky passacaglia, its pretty much a theme and vars

pretty easy too, i use it for sightreading practice

[hodi]

I suggest:
Mendelssohn  - Variations  Seriuses
Schumann - Ghost Variations
Alkan - Le Festin d'Esope

[prometheus]

Reger-Bach? Surely those are the best. And probably a bit easier than Soraji, Rzewski, Rachmaninoff and Godowsky.

[Nordlys]

Most of the variations you have listed here are among the most difficult virtuoso works you can play:
Brahms paganini
Alkan Festin d'esope
Rzewski's "The People United Will Never Be Defeated"

The other suggestions are just very hard (but very nice):
Beethoven: third movement of opus 109
Schumann's Symphonic Etudes
Mendelssohn  - Variations  Seriuses
Brahms - Variations on a Theme by Schumann, op.9
Brahms' Handel Variations
Schubert Impromptu in Bb, op.142 #3
  I also add:
Beethoven: Eroica
Beethoven: Variations in c minor
Grieg - Ballade (actually a variation work)
Dukas - Variation on a theme of rameau


If you want some easy ones, I like very much:
Handel: Passacaglia G-minor
Handel: Chaconne G-major
(I think these are from the keyboard suites.)

A little more difficult:
Beethoven: Variations in G major on the aria "Nel cor più non mi sento"
Mozart: variation on "twinkle little star"
[..]

There has to be a ton more, but I cannot think of more right now.

[shasta]

Tash, here are an assortment for you that vary in technical prowess:

Rach's Corelli Vars. <-- I've played these. Demanding but really gorgeous.
Rach's Chopin Vars.  <-- to me, more difficult than the Corelli
Herz’s Rossini “La Cenerentola” Vars.
Busoni’s Chopin Prelude No.20 Vars/Fugue
Reger's Telemann Vars. <-- you never hear these, probably because they are the bear
Brahm's Handel Vars. 
Brahm’s Schumann Vars.
Clara Schumann’s Bellini's "Pirata” Vars. <--- my favorite of her stuff, way underplayed
Clara Schumann’s Robert Schumann Vars.
Clara Schumann’s 3 Fugues on a Theme of Bach
Earl Wild’s Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin Songs  <--- extremely cool
Beethoven’s Prometheus Vars.
Czerny’s Ricordanza Vars.
Thalberg’s Rossini "Semiramide” Vars.
Mompou's Chopin Vars.  <-- I've done these, quite fun!
Moy's Chinese Folk Song Theme and Vars.

[sharon_f]

A little more difficult:
Beethoven: Variations in G major on the aria "Nel cor più non mi sento"
Mozart: variation on "twinkle little star"
Schumann ABEGG would be here.

? ? ? The Abegg Variations are much more difficult than either the Beethoven or Mozart.

[Tash]

cooool thanks for all the suggestions! i will check them out and see what i feel like:)

[g_s_223]

Reger-Bach? Surely those are the best. And probably a bit easier than Soraji, Rzewski, Rachmaninoff and Godowsky.

Well said, prometheus. A marvellous set of variations these, but very challenging pedalling though...

[dmk]

Most of the variations you have listed here are among the most difficult virtuoso works you can play:
Brahms paganini
Alkan Festin d'esope
Rzewski's "The People United Will Never Be Defeated"

True...there are a few good sets of Beethoven variations under 12 mins that are not virtuoistic level hard (around the dip standard)

Take a look at

6 Variations on an Original Theme in F major op 34 (this is on the L Mus syllabus, it is NOT that hard and is a super soft L Mus option, its only the DipABRSM and TCL Performers Certificate (for whatever value these 'gradings provide)).  I really like these!!

7 Variations on "God Save the King" in C major WoO 78: these are very accessible

6 Little Variations in G major WoO 77: I find these are a lot easier than the F major variations

32 Variations in C minor WoO 80: probably about the same level and length as the F major variations but lots of little short 'ones'....I think its variation 32 which has 7 on 4 and then 7 on 5....a bit of a pain until you get the hang of it!!!

good luck

dmk

[dinosaurtales]

I agree.  I am currently working on the Beethoven c minor vars - and they are glorious!  Also the piace is incredibly short once it's down - 10 mintes or so at most.  The biggest difficulties, depending on your interest and technique, are that they do contain some technical bits - as listed above, plus maintaining the flow and tempo, given how many variations there are and how brief - the "mood" changes quite frequently and abruptly, which adds to the allure. 

The Mendelssohn is a nice set also. 

[apion]

Almost all of the great variations are longer than 12 minutes, but Mendelssohn's  Variations  Seriouses is right around 13 minutes, so I'd suggest that. 

[Nordlys]

? ? ? The Abegg Variations are much more difficult than either the Beethoven or Mozart.

Yes, you are probably right. My mistake.  I shouldn't have opinions on pieces I haven't played myself.

[rob47]

I really think Zart's 10 variations on a theme by gluck Unser-dunser-something in G are wicked.

[burstroman]

Grieg Ballade, or Schubert, Impromptu in B-flat.

[g_s_223]

Why not write your own? The beauty of variation form is you get a pre-built melodic and harmonic structure which is presumably coherent and memorable (if you pick a good one). Then all you have to do is elaborate it in a variety of ways. You can do this formally, or more casually as an improvisation like the jazzers.

Pianists should do more composition, it was entirely normal to do so in the 19th century...

[prometheus]

You can't just write a composition. It is a much greater challenge then just playing piano. Learning to compose will take more time than learning how to play piano.

Sure, I am all for classical musicians composing a lot more. But this person has a recital comming up, I suppose. She/he can't just write her/his own as a substitute for the pieces suggested.

[palika dunno]

Händel:
Harmonious Blacksmith
or
Passacaglia in G-Minor (from Suite No. 7 I think)

palika

[nanabush]

The people united will never be defeated... is it by any chance a piece of like 100 variations?  I might be thinking of somethin completely different, but I heard some of those variations and they were awesome... once again not sure if that's what I'm talking about... I'm thinking of a set that's in D minor... could it be the Rzewsky?

[rafant]

Great suggestions above, and probably enough. Let me add the 1st mov. of Mozart's Sonata K331 in A Major, an unforgettable theme and 5 or 6 charming variations, I don't remember exactly how many.

On the other hand, for a tiny and curious sample, find 5 variations, each one occupying only one stave,  in the middle section of the Brahms' Romance Op 118 No 5.