Suggest Some Solo Piano Variations To Me

[Octo_Russ]

I love the Classical variation form, plus i love the piano, so put them together and you have one of my favourite types of music, everyone knows the Bach / Goldberg, Beethoven / Diabelli, and Brahms / Handel Variations, but what else is there if you go deeper into the unknown?, i'm mainly looking for substantial works, 30 mins +, especially works that are available on disc, any suggestions?.

[Drasko]

Rzewski - People united will never be defeated

[Lethevich]

Are Brahms' Paganini variations too obvious? I'll have a think about any more obscure sets.

[Holden]

Beethoven is the best composer of variations that I know of so choose from

32 in C minor WoO80
15 in E flat (Eroica)
12 on a Russian tune

or just get this



I haven't heard the Ogdon but the Gilels are superb!

[Lethevich]

Rubinstein - Thème et Variations, Op.88 (a good 45 mins long)

All the others I can think of are way too short (like 20 mins or under)

[mc ukrneal]

Not quite that long, but Herzogenberg wrote some variations on a Theme of Brahms, Theme and Variations for two pianos, Variations of the Minuet of Don Juan, all to be found here (not quite as long as you wanted, lasting about 15-20 minutes maybe):


Oh - and Reger, who wrote variations and Fugue on a Theme of JS Bach. Hamelin has this on a Reger disc on Hyperion. That's longer.  Beethoven wrote other variations as well that you didn't list, so not sure if you are familiar with them (Eroica Variations and Fugue and Six Variations in F on an Original Theme (Lortie on Chandos or Richter on Regis a place to start)). You also didn't mention the Variations on a Theme from Chopin (by Rachmaninov).

I'm sure there are more, but that's what comes to mind. 

[PaulSC]

Mendelssohn - Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54
Liszt - Variations on a theme of J.S. Bach (Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen)
Reger - Bach Variations (Op. 81), Telemann Variations (Op. 134)
Haydn - Andante And Variations in F Minor, Hob.XVII:6, "Un Piccolo Divertimento"
-- far more profound than the title might lead you to believe
Carl Nielsen - Chaconne
Bach-Busoni - Chaconne
Busoni - Variations and Fugue on a Chopin Prelude in C minor
Rachmaninoff - Variations on a Chopin Prelude in C minor

edit - sorry for a few duplicates, and some of these aren't on the grand scale you've requested but all are substantial

[bhodges]

Rzewski - People united will never be defeated

A huge "seconded" to this one, and there are lots of good recordings of it, including one by Rzewski himself, who is a surprisingly good pianist.

--Bruce

[listener]

A few more, rather entertaining ones
BUSONI   on "Kommt ein Vogel geflogen"  K.222
RUBINSTEIN  on "Yankee Doodle"  op. 93
SZYMANOWSKI on a Polish theme, op. 10, in b^b, op. 3
Franz REIZENSTEIN  on "The Lambeth Walk"
and the rather nasty (in comparison )-sounding COPLAND Piano Variations
and I'll remember later who did the 48 variations on the C-Major scale

[Lethevich]

Ahhh you cheaters, some of these are so much shorter than the initial request asked for!

[Octo_Russ]

Ahhh you cheaters, some of these are so much shorter than the initial request asked for!

Ha ha, yeah, i'm looking for some substantial things, like the Goldberg or Diabelli, but i must admit i do like Beethoven's 32 Variations in C Minor, lasting only 11 minutes, so maybe something lasting less if it's really good, the Brahms / Paganini i'm familiar with, and Reger i've tried, but i just don't get that guy, and the Rachmaninov Corelli & Chopin variations i already know.

I'll see if i can get to hear some of the other suggestions.

[listener]

Ronald STEVENSON  Passacaglia on D-S-C-H  .... about 83 min. long

[kishnevi]

I've been taken with Brahms's Handel Variations since I got the new Perahia CD, which leads off with them.

Lutoslawski wrote a set of Paganini Variations, but I don't remember if it's for one or two pianos.

[PaulSC]

^ two pianos
fun & worth hearing although uncharacteristic of his mature style

[mc ukrneal]

A few others came to mind:

Franz Schmidt: Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for piano left hand & orchestra (not solo piano, but still, thought might be of interest, and long enough at least)
Czerny: Variations on "Gott Erhalte" for piano & string quartet (20-30 minutes I'd guess)
Vogler: Variations and Capriccio on "Marlborough, S'en-va-t-en Guerre" (just happens to come on a disc with the Czerny)

[listener]

and continuing the concerto suggestions
DOHNANYI Variations on a Nursery Song
EGGE  Piano Concerto 2 - Variations and Fugue on a Norwegian Folk Tune
and only 9:17 ALKAN  Le Festin d'Esope  as a knuckle-buster solo.

[Wanderer]

Some very good suggestions above (especially the Rzewski).
Additionally, I'd propose Medtner's grand Improvisation No.2 op.47 (in my view, one of his best works). There are three recordings at the moment widely available; Hamish Milne (included in the Brilliant Medtner set), Earl Wild on Chesky and Geoffrey Tozer on Chandos - all very good, each one with its own strong points. The Tropp recording (coupled with Scriabin's preludes) is very hard to find but totally worthwhile if one comes by it.

Medtner's Improvisation No.1 op.31/1 is also a variation set but much shorter (around 7 minutes). The initial theme is very beautiful, ladden with beguiling sadness; however, the variations are mostly torrential, almost cataclysmic, in the best vein of romantic angst. Hamelin has made a very good recording of it that highlights the stormy elements; the Wild recording is of a similar persuasion.

[Ten thumbs]

Another set that I find very satisfying is Glazounov's variations Op. 72. I like the way each variation seems to lead naturally into the next.

[PaulSC]

Octo_Russ, I assume you already know Robert Schumann's Symphonic Etudes Op. 13 -- but I'll mention it since no one else has. It's a fairly lengthy set, especially if the posthumous etudes are included (as they often are).

You mention Beethoven's Diabelli Variations in your opening post, so I'll just remind you that Beethoven wrote them after declining to contribute a single variation to Diabelli's original collaborative venture. The latter involves contributions by 49 different composers, including Mozart, Schubert, and Hummel. The pianist Ian Fountain has recorded a disc full of these. Also, while it clocks in around 20 minutes, the cooperative set of variations entitled "Hexameron" -- conceived by Liszt and with individual variations contributed by Chopin, Czerny, Thalberg, and others -- is a delight.

[Wanderer]

Also, while it clocks in around 20 minutes, the cooperative set of variations entitled "Hexameron" -- conceived by Liszt and with individual variations contributed by Chopin, Czerny, Thalberg, and others -- is a delight.

Indeed, it is!