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Variations for Piano, Op.72

Category Chamber Music > Instrumental - Piano
Composed 1997
Duration (approx) 16 minutes
Parts 

Piano

Recording(s) David Matthews - Music for Piano
Publisher Faber Music
Commission 

Mrs Ursula King, with additional funding from the Arts Council of England.

First performance 12 July 1997
Venue Astor Theatre, Deal Summer Music Festival
Soloists / Players Ian Fountain (piano)
Review Peter Davies, Piano Journal, Autumn 1998
  

There are twenty-four variations on the short original theme, all of which are clearly related to it. Although each variation is obviously contrasted in relation to its neighbours, there is a strong sense of overall design connecting the whole. The first fifteen variations are mainly fast and become progressively more involved technically and harmonically, reaching a climax with the last three which form a linked section.The mood and tempo then suddenly melts beautifully into a slow blues, which marks the beginning of the generally more relaxed final nine variations. The work ends with a gentle and simple harmonisation of the theme. The clarity of presentation is first-rate, and the work comes highly recommended as a whole.