Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel
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The Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24, is a highly imaginative, classically polished composition for solo piano penned by Johannes Brahms. It was composed in September 1861 as a birthday present for Clara Schumann, who was the widow of Brahms' musical and personal mentor, Robert Schumann. Shortly after Brahms gave the premiere in Vienna on November 29, 1861, Clara herself played the Handel Variations in a recital in Hamburg.
Brahms borrowed the theme from an aria in George Frideric Handel's Harpsichord Suite in B flat, HWV 434 (1733). In the Handel, the original theme is transformed into five variations. To explore the vast chromatic possibilities that were opened up by the inventive development of the piano from the harpsichord, Brahms enlarged the scope of his opus to a monumental 25 variations capped off by an extended fugue.
Structure
- Theme. Aria
- Variation I. Più vivo
- Variation II. Animato
- Variation III. Dolce, scherzando
- Variation IV. Risoluto
- Variation V. Espressivo
- Variation VI. Sempre misterioso
- Variation VII. Deciso, con vivacita
- Variation VIII. Deciso, con vivacita
- Variation IX. Poco sostenuto
- Variation X. Allegro energico
- Variation XI. Moderato, dolce espressivo
- Variation XII. L'istesso tempo
- Variation XIII. Largamente ma non troppo
- Variation XIV. Sciolto
- Variation XV.
- Variation XVI.
- Variation XVII. Più mosso
- Variation XVIII.
- Variation XIX. Leggiero e vivace ma non troppo
- Variation XX. Andante
- Variation XXI. Vivace
- Variation XXII. Alla musette
- Variation XXIII. Vivace
- Variation XXIV.
- Variation XXV.
- Fugue
External link
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