Variations Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1764818

This piece has some ponderous, heavy parts and some lyrical, light parts as it takes an original theme through several variations of quite different styles. If you take this on you will not inherit the Earth, because the music is not for the meek. With a performance time of around 16 minutes, it will take a prominent spot on the program.

Layout:

Theme: Adagio tedesco

Before the "official" variations have even started, the theme is taken through three mini-variations, first by solo Piccolo and Flute, then by trumpets with upper woodwind embellishment, and finally by the upper woodwinds.

Variation 1: Allegro croccante

Solo voices in the saxophones, trumpets, and horns present a rapid-fire take on the theme, popping out chunks of the melody in a frenetic 6/8 that lasts just a few seconds.

Variation 2: Andante lirico

The theme takes on a plaintive, nostalgic quality in this variation. Thinly scored and expressive, the variation presents musical challenges, even if not technical ones.

Variation 3: Allegro moderato

This variation is organized around whole notes in a frame of bell tones

Variation 4: Senza fretta e un poco arrogante

The theme is twisted into an almost atonal shape, characterized by large leaps accompanied by dissonant chords, and two or three variants played on top of each other. Not recommended as a lullabye.

Variation 5: L'istesso tempo, liscio

A variant of the theme is performed canon-style, which sounds pretty reasonable up to a point. As more and more voices are added, the melody is crushed underfoot.

Variation 6: Allegro deciso con determinazione

We pick up the pace and play the theme as a fast (132 BPM) march...if we're liberal about the definition of "march."

Variation 7: Andantino espressivo (valse triste)

Solo euphonium plays a melancholy variant of the theme as a slow waltz. Tuba and clarinets provide a lightweight frame.

Variation 8: Allegro moderato

The full band returns for a forceful statement of the theme, warped almost beyond recognition. If the audience fell asleep during the euphonium solo, this should fix it.

Variation 9: Moderato assai

The saxophones come to the fore in this gentle, quiet variation.

Variation 10: Allegro

A mixed-meter, no-nonsense presentatio of the theme with the full band blasting away.

Variation 11: Moderato pensieroso

Back to thin scoring again, the variation opens with a bare-nekkid solo Alto Sax, followed by solo Trumpet with Trombone accompaniment, and then solo Baritone Horn. a solo Flute wraps it up.

Variation 12: Alla marcia

The theme takes on the shape of a 6/8 march in this variation.

Variation 13: Allegro moderato

After a chorale-like introduction, the solo Oboe performs a variant of the theme. On repetition, solo Clarinet joins in with a harmony part. Saxophones close with a pianissimo reiteration of the chorale.

Theme: Adagio tedesco

Solo Trumpet brings back the theme in its original form, joined by solo horn, then by the rest of the trumpets, and finally the full band.

Solos:

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
English Horn
Bassoon 1
Clarinet 2
Alto Sax 1
Alto Sax 2
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Horn 1
Horn 2
Baritone Horn
Euphonium.