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Thursday, April 14, 2005

Mozart Theme and Variations D Major

Wow there are a ton of variations on this piece!! I am just going to kind of list things instead of writing in paragraph form... because I think it will be hard (not to mention boring) to read.
The theme is a continuous rounded binary form. The A section consists of two 4 measure phrases, the first of which ends on a HC in D Major, and the second on a PAC in A major. The B section is very short, only 4 measures long and ends on a HC back in the original key of D Major, which prepares us for the return of the A section, which ends on a PAC in D Major.

Variations: The variations in this piece are sectional. Most of them seem to be based off of altering the rhythm, texture, and dynamics. The last few change meter. The basic harmonic structure remains throughout the variations, but the melody is basically lost most of the time.

Variation #1:
*rhythm changes from an 8th note pulse to 16th note pulse. This happens a bunch throughout the variations.
*The melody is still there, but it is disguised by the triplets.
*Basic harmonic structure still present.

Variation #2:
*more dynamic contrasts, sudden and shocking changes from p-f-p-f.
*The density and texture change. There is a lot less going on, the hands play separately a lot.
*Call and response feeling between the 2 hands.
*More of a contrapuntal texture happening here.
* 8th note pulse returns

Variation #3:
*The 16th note pulse takes the place of the 8th note pulse
*Parallel octaves in the left hand make it sound a lot more rough and jaunty then previous variations.


Variation #4:
*The hands flip and create a change in texture. The right hand now has the sustained block chords, and the left hand plays the fast 16th note material.
*This is the first time I really thought, "where the heck is the melody?" But the basic harmonic structure remains the same.

Variation #5:
*Once again, the pulse returns to 8th notes.
*Tempo changes- much slower.
*The sound becomes much more flowing, which is a nice break from previous excited variations.

Variation #6: (I am halfway finished here kids... AAAHHH!)
*16th note pulse is back for more!
*Huge change in texture- FAST arpeggios.
*Drastic change in tempo from variation 5. Much faster.

Variation #7:
*Calm feeling returns
*Tonality changes from D Major to d minor.
*Tempo is slow, dynamic softer, very calm almost sad feeling.

Variation #8:
*Tonality shifts back to major.
*Contrapuntal texture.
*Tempo picks up... happy again!
*Dynamics are LOUD.

Variation #9:
*Very similiar to 8, except there are many more sudden dymanic contrasts between p and f.

Variation #10:
*16th note pulse again.
*Huge octave jumps going on in the right hand create a change in texture. Nice contrast against the smooth, flowing left hand.

Variation #11:
*Meter changes to common time
*Calm feeling returns

Variation #12: (It's the last one!!! get EXCITED!)
*Meter changes to 3/4
*Excited and loud again
*16th note pulse.

***** END OF NOVEL********* :-)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much! A big help! :)

jon said...

mind posting the K. number to this piece?

Anonymous said...

I believe it's K 265.