Definative variation sets from each major period.

[contrapunctus]

I am looking for sets of variations that use enough of the techniques of their respective periods to be called "definative" pieces for that period.

Here is a list I have made up already.

Baroque: Bach--Goldberg Variations
Classical: Beethoven--Diabelli Variations
Romantic: Reger--Bach Variations
Twentieth Century--Rzewski--The People United Variations.

I realize that all four of the periods mentioned can be split up into many subcategories. In fact, it is nearly ridiculous to put all of the different styles of the 20th century into one category.

Anyways, I feel my choices for the first two periods are very well founded. It the second two periods that I am having trouble with. The Reger variations are late romantic and do not cover ealry romantic very well. I thought about the Paganini Variations, but I feel they are much too classically restrained.

My choice for twentieth century is more of a suggestion--it does use many 20th century techniques and covers that period quite well (in fact, they were composed as a companion to the Diabelli Vars.). However, I am not nearly knowledgable about 20th century music to make the Rzewski my definative choice.

I am interested in hearing your opinions on the matter.

I am also interested in hearing witch sets of variations you like the most.
It is a very hard choice for me as I love them all but here is my order:
1) Goldberg vars
2) Reger's
3) Rzewski's
4) Diabelli vars

[pianistimo]

here's a few more 20th century composers who wrote variations:

john corigliano - etude fantasy (five etudes)
aaron copeland - piano variations
ben weber - fantasia (variations)
george tsontakis - ghost variations

there's a cd with all these on them played by stephen hough.  don't know how good it is because i can't get it to play right now.

[jre58591]

here's a few more 20th century composers who wrote variations:

john corigliano - etude fantasy (five etudes)
aaron copeland - piano variations
ben weber - fantasia (variations)
george tsontakis - ghost variations

there's a cd with all these on them played by stephen hough.  don't know how good it is because i can't get it to play right now.

that new york variations disk with hough is one of the best 20th century CDs i have. i think corigliano's etude fantasy is a good set.

regarding max reger's bach variations, i think they are good variations, but probably not the best of the romantic period. maybe look at liszt's last paganini etude or even henselt's variations de concert, op11, which is a very good and undiscovered set of variations.

[presto agitato]

My list is the following:

Baroque: Bach - Goldberg Variations. (By far)
Classical: Mozart - Variations on "Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman".
Late Classical: Beethoven - Eroica Variations.
Romantic: Schumann - Etudes Symphoniques
Late Romantic: Brahms - Handel Variations
Twentieth Century: Reger - Bach Variations
Twentieth Century (Late): Rzewski - The People United Variations

[nicco]

Dont forget the Grieg Ballade A piece so strong for him, that after he played it for franz liszt, he never performed it again.

[stevie]

other than the obvious ones already mentioned -


earlier romantic - alkan's festin d'aesop

later romantic - godowsky's passacaglia on a theme by schubert

[etudes]

other than the obvious ones already mentioned -


earlier romantic - alkan's festin d'aesop

later romantic - godowsky's passacaglia on a theme by schubert

2 were in my mind after i read this (you beat me stevie!)
last movement from op.109 is also very great
5 variations of Berio is also very cool work (cinq variations)

[superstition2]

I'm not in any way advocating the following pieces, just listing them as candidates for consideration:

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (for piano and orchestra)
Rachmaninov, Variations on a Theme of Corelli
Rachmaninov, Variations on a Theme of Chopin
Brahms, Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Dukas, Variations, interlude et finale sur un thème de Rameau
Bizet, Variations Chromatiques (de Concert)
Poulenc, Les soirées de Nazelles
Liszt, Totentanz (for piano and orchestra)
Webern, Variations Op. 27
Scriabin, Variations on a Theme by Mlle. Egoroff
Tviett, Variations on a folksong (for two pianos and orchestra)

Non-piano:

Messien, quartet for the end of time
Prokofiev, symphony No. 2

[apion]

BAROQUE: Bach, Goldberg V's
CLASSICAL: Beethoven, Diabelli V's
ROMANTIC: Brahms, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel
MODERN: Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3 (second mvt)