Theme and Variation Form 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP9KWQ8hAYk

In today's post, I'd like to take a look at a common musical form, theme and variations. 

We all are accustomed to the phrase "variations on a theme" in common speech. We might read, for example, that the latest brand of political attacks are just variations on a theme that we've heard since the late '90s.  In this context, "variations on a theme" means "simple idea and then changed only slightly." In music, the phrase means pretty much the same, except the "theme" is a musical idea.  For the past several hundred years, composers have used the artistic idea of theme with variations to create some beautiful music. Knowing a little about how the composer crafts this music can help us understand and enjoy it more fully. 

The composer starts with a musical theme, which typically is short and clear enough that it can be recognized easily by the listener when repeated and changed.  Then the theme is modified, then modified again, and then again, until the final variation reaches its climactic conclusion.  Part of the fascination of this musical form is for the listener to try to hear the original theme in each of the variations; and to marvel at the composer's ingenuity in creating such unique variations, while adhering to the basic structure of the original theme. 

Here is a masterful, short (14 minutes) example of theme and variations form: 

Mozart, A Major Sonata K. 331, first movement.  With its simple, recognizable theme, this set of variations is very approachable for any listener. 

Theme and variations is a very common form and some magnificent music was composed using it.  I'll link some of these wonderful pieces in my next post. 

Next post: Theme and Variations Form 2: several of my favorites