Op.72 - Variations for Piano

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

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.