// Variations in A minor for violin and piano \\

(Yeah, I stole Marius' style of writing thread titles, sue me )

This is a piece I began mostly out of boredom yesterday at half past midnight, and finished about half an hour ago. It took a little over two hours to write, and is my first finished piece in many months. Like the title implies, it consists of variations on a theme, which isn't mine: it's a ballad by portuguese singer/songwriter Luiz Goes called "Poema para um Menino". It was traditional for composers to write variations on other peoples' themes, and that's what I did. The theme's arrangement is mine, though.

The violin part eventually becomes extremely demanding, but I felt it was needed to speed up listeners' heartbeats the piano part also has its difficult moments, particularly the coda. I'm not a pianist, so advice regarding the piano part would be extremely welcome.

It lasts aproximately 7 minutes, and consists of theme, followed by four variations and an extended coda. Below there's a .MUS and a .MID file.

EDIT: Added the score in .pdf format

Hehe, I wonder if the violinist will get a hand ache after playing this

I mentioned to you before about the 6ths, although you had an explanation why you did not want use them. So no complaints about that.

Bar 28 the G in the left hand (quarter note) I mentioned it to you as well. It is reachable, and no doubt playable. Although people with small hands might have a problem with it. Of course the right hand could take the B note, personally I am not fond of 'breaking an arpeggio' it stops the flow with the fingering tassel.

I cannot comment much on the violin part since that is your expertise.

Enjoyable, even with the obnoxious Violin midi sound

Your most successful piece yet - one of those pieces where everything just 'comes together'. Well done!
I don't really have too much to say, but the piano and violin parts seemed effective and idiomatic to me, if the piano part was slightly boring.
The music was effective, although with the shortcomings of that type of variation form (i.e., a little too repetitive) - and there was good buildup, although I felt there could have been slightly more buildup towards the end, for that big climax. (maybe room for another variation or two).
Also, use pedal over the piano tremolos.

Good job! Enjoyable work.

Very nicely done. The Theme itself was a very subtle, and very classical theme. I assume you did your variations by chords. Measures 107-115ish are going to be HARD to play, those 3 against 4 passages are always hard. Then....it went all James Bond on me... but, that was exciting. The Coda was nice, but whatever you were talking about the hardness of the piano... It isn't that hard. I printed it off and sight read the entire song, but I guess it depends on hand size (My hand is very large).

Very good endeavor, I look forward to more music.

Much appreciated for all the comments! Daniel was kind enough to have made me an mp3 GPO recording of the piece. Contact me through MSN (go to my profile to see my address) if you want it.

I well certainly do that, cannot stand the awful solo strings !!!

I liked this very much, and the piano part is fine. In fact, I took notes on each variation to study how you built the climax.... I'm writing variations of my own for harpsichord and your piece has inspired me. Not that I'm going to copy anything.

Originally Posted by echurchill

I liked this very much, and the piano part is fine. In fact, I took notes on each variation to study how you built the climax.... I'm writing variations of my own for harpsichord and your piece has inspired me. Not that I'm going to copy anything.

...I'm honored! The only thing I can think of to recommend is to make your last few variations, and above all the last one, the most energic, which naturally leads to an exciting coda.

I like this enough that I may just upgrade Daniel's recording to one made with my various sound libraries...perhaps.

After I sue you.

Long live the Dominion of Canada