Burlesque variations on an original theme

Op. 3, 1903†, 27:00

Composed spring and summer 1903, completed September 1903
Revised thereafter, but no later than 1912
Full score not heard of after 1907 until it was re-discovered in 1974

3 flutes (1 also picc), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, cymbals, suspended cymbal, tambourine, triangle, tam-tam, snare drum, bass drum, 1-2 harps [harp 2 ad lib], organ [ad lib], strings

Theme Andante (quasi allegretto ma serioso), B minor
Variation 1: Imitando Allegro, B minor/major
Variation 2: Tempesto Vivace, C sharp minor/D minor
Variation 3: Elegy Andante languido, E flat major/B minor
Variation 4: Allegretto grazioso, G major
Variation 5: Allegro risoluto, B minor/G minor
Variation 6: Adagio e rubato e mistico, B major
Variation 7: Finale en form d'Overture Allegro determinato – Chorale Largamente e grandioso, B major

United Music Publishers Limited

Timings

Hull Heald-Smith 1980Hull Heald-Smith 1980BBCSSO Walker 2009
Theme Andante (quasi allegretto ma serioso)––1:15
Variation 1: Imitando Allegro––1:18
Variation 2: Tempesto Vivace––1:07
Variation 3: Elegy Andante languido––5:46
Variation 4: Allegretto grazioso––3:35
Variation 5: Allegro risoluto––2:17
Variation 6: Adagio e rubato e mistico––2:06
Variation 7: Finale en form d'Overture Allegro determinato – Chorale Largamente e grandioso––8:10
Total29:0029:0025:34

Articles

• Brian and variation form (1) – Malcolm MacDonald

Performances

13 March 1980 [first performance] City Hall, Hull, UK
City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Geoffrey Heald-Smith
26–27 July 1980 City Hall, Hull, UK
City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Geoffrey Heald-Smith
23/24 July 2009 City Halls, Glasgow
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Garry Walker

Recordings

Cameo Classics CC9014CD-2 (2 discs) released 1994
26–27 July 1980 City Hall, Hull, UK
City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Geoffrey Heald-Smith
• Review of City of Hull Youth SO CDs – David J Brown
• Review of Hull Youth SO recording – Lewis Foreman
Toccata Classics TOCC 0110 released March 2011
23/24 July 2009 City Halls, Glasgow
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Garry Walker