Favourite orchestral Theme and Variations works

[André]

This is the NEW poll on orchestral Theme and Variations works.

Thanks all for your suggestions. They helped make the number of entries balloon to an unseemly 39 works . The inclusion of some works may push the envelope a bit, so let me remind you of the nature of the poll.

- Works bearing the term Variations as a title or subtitle, or works where score subdivisions are clearly identified as « variation ».

- I have decided not to include variants such as chaconne (Schmidt, Escaich) or passacaglia (Webern, Martin, Schnittke) for practical and technical reasons. They are not based on the conventional notion of theme but rather, as per the wiki entry on the subject, are « a vehicle for variation on a repeated short harmonic progression ». Moot, I agree, but that's where practical considerations weigh in. Which is not to imply that they are not works of great value.

And now...vote !

[Mirror Image]

Of the ones on this list, I voted for the following:

Elgar: Enigma Variations
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on 'Dives and Lazarus'
Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Delius: Appalachia
Copland: Orchestral Variations

[springrite]

Simpson, Bax, Elgar, Tippett and Lutoslawski (more or less in that order!)

[JBS]

Too many of them I haven't heard, so I won't vote. But Brahms, Elgar, and Rachmaninov would certainly be included.

[springrite]

Too many of them I haven't heard, so I won't vote. But Brahms, Elgar, and Rachmaninov would certainly be included.

I haven't heard the Holler, Braunfels, von Koch and Leifs. But some others I have heard but with minimal impression (which in itself is saying something, i guess)

[ritter]

Voted for the Brahms (not that I'm much of a Brahmin, but I do find much to admire and enjoy in the Haydn-Variations), the Walton (great fun), the Schoenberg (a stunning piece IMHO) and the Carter. My fifth choice, alas, is not in the list: Ginastera's Variaciones concertantes.

Great poll, André!  Much music to explore from that list....

[vandermolen]

Parry: yes,yes,yes. My favourite work by him which I play more than the Enigma
VW: Five Variants....
Walton
Respighi
Copland

[Maestro267]

Is the d'Indy "Variations symphoniques" Opus 42, also known as Istar?

[André]

Too many of them I haven't heard, so I won't vote. But Brahms, Elgar, and Rachmaninov would certainly be included.

You can cast up to 5 votes, less if you want.

[André]

Voted for the Brahms (not that I'm much of a Brahmin, but I do find much to admire and enjoy in the Haydn-Variations), the Walton (great fun), the Schoenberg (a stunning piece IMHO) and the Carter. My fifth choice, alas, is not in the list: Ginastera's Variaciones concertantes.

Great poll, André!  Much music to explore from that list....

Ginastera is now our 40th entry. If you haven't used your 5th vote, you can select it.

[André]

Is the d'Indy "Variations symphoniques" Opus 42, also known as Istar?

YES. Thanks for the question. I have amended the title to make sure there is no confusion.

[André]

I went for perennial favourites (Brahms, Elgar, Rachmaninov, Vaughan Williams) and a dark horse, the Don Juan Variations by Braunfels.

But it's a pity to leave out so much great music: Schönberg, d'Indy, Franck, Reger (the Hiller set), von Koch, Delius...

And so much yet to discover...

[Jo498]

I just realized that before I listened to it on youtube two hours ago I had never heard the Dvorak Symphonic Variations op.78 and only vaguely been aware of their existence...
If I am not mistaken I have heard 24 of the pieces listed although several of them maybe only once.

[ritter]

Ginastera is now our 40th entry. If you haven't used your 5th vote, you can select it.

Thanks! I had only voted for four, but it seems I cannot amend my vote to include Ginastera...

[mc ukrneal]

Franck and Britten/Young Person's Guide. None of the others get me excited.

[Draško]

Rococo's and Dives and Lazarus are my absolute favorites, after them maybe Brahms, Rachmaninov and Britten's Bridge ones, also Schoenberg, Arensky is nice and Kodaly. I haven't heard quite a few of the others, I'll chase them up on spotify. Thanks for putting up the list, Andre.    

[André]

Thanks! I had only voted for four, but it seems I cannot amend my vote to include Ginastera...

Hmmm... I allowed up to 5 votes, but maybe you can only vote once  .

Anyhow, be it known that Ginastera has Ritter's vote !

[André]

Rococo's and Dives and Lazarus are my absolute favorites, after them maybe Brahms, Rachmaninov and Britten's Bridge ones, also Schoenberg, Arensky is nice and Kodaly. I haven't heard quite a few of the others, I'll chase them up on spotify. Thanks for putting up the list, Andre.    

So many works to discover, and many seem to have ardent advocates. I predict that my credit card will suffer as a consequence  .

[Daverz]

I'd add Salieri's 26 Variations on 'La folia di Spagna' and Geminiani's concerto grosso arrangement of Correlli's Folia variations, the Violin Sonata in D minor, Op. 5 No. 12.

[André]

No replies in almost a month, time for a roundup:

Elgar, 9 votes
Brahms, Rachmaninoff: 8 votes

Followed by

Vaughan-Williams, Carter: 5 votes
Schönberg, Tippett: 4 votes

12 works were ignored, most of them rarely performed or recorded. Some piqued my curiosity and I will keep them in mind when looking for off-the-beaten path stuff.

Thanks for your participation !