Variations On My Own Theme

So as I study at my university I have great and willing teacher for composition side lesson. After I showed him my compositions he told me to pick one of my melody and try to do variations. I have chosen the first 16 bars of beginning melody in right hand of my "Last Beat" piece since it has sentimental value for me.

He told me that I have creativty for melody but I should try to get rid of my tendency to just put arpeggios and variate my left hand. Put the melody from right hand to left and so. Try to be more sophisticated and interesting.

Now I get al of that. I made some attempts but so far I find it tremendously hard to make it clear and good because it seems like that just my left hand is too lazy and when it should do something apart from just an easy background it is not going well.

He gives me guidance of course but I would like to hear your experience and advice on this topic. I looked through Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Liszt and Brahms variations but honestly, I feel like I am not sure what to look for exactly. Harmonic functions and ryhtmization and try to mimic it from begining until I get the hang of it? I need some proper goals to focus on. Any tips?

Thank you so much, should you find the time to respond.

The renaissance answer would be to see how your melody can fit against itself in a canon forward and backward, upside down or in a different meter, but I fear that may not be what the teacher meant ;-)

I suppose I can recommend checking out that famous segment from Schubert's overplayed string quintet, where he varies a simple melody ("The Trout") by putting it in different voices, changing the rhythm, adding imitations and so forth, and generally changing the character without too many differences in harmony. I hope that helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpG-_XjJHcA&t=24m30s

Theme and variations is one of my favorite forms to work in. At its most basic level, variation form is like taking the blueprints for a house and discovering just how many different and unique ways you can rebuild the house. Somehow the theme's essence and structure always need to be invoked but it also needs to venture forth and go in unexpected directions. 

I highly recommend you study Beethoven's 32 variations in c minor for four reasons:

1. Beethoven's theme is very short and so each variation is brief too. Because of this, you can learn a great deal very quickly.

2. Its amazing how Beethoven barely ever changes the themes harmonic outline. I recommend you follow his example. If you are a beginner I'd advise you to not change your theme's harmony too much and see what you can do with it. Once you've mastered the basics then I'd recommend experimenting with the harmonic structure later on.

3. Beethoven starts to create larger sections out of grouping variations together and having one variation flow seamlessly into the next one. This is a great skill to study and master.

4. It's simply a fun piece that never loses its energy or sense of urgency. 

I would also recommend checking out Alkan's "Le Festin D'Esope" which is a series of variations on a simple original theme.  What he does with it is flatout mind-boggling.  There a good Youtube video with the sheet music with the performance.

http://youtu.be/t6OQpkOUijE

Thank you all so much for these study materials. Especially the Alkan one. Sounds more modern as it inspired me to try something more atypical rather than stick to the basics.

Thank you all so much for these study materials. Especially the Alkan one. Sounds more modern as it inspired me to try something more atypical rather than stick to the basics.

I look forward to when you post it 

Please take a look at Anton Reicha's "L'art de varier", op. 57(http://imslp.org/wiki/L'Art_de_Varier,_Op.57_(Reicha,_Anton))

It has 57 variations over a theme. It may become quite handy^^

Please take a look at Anton Reicha's "L'art de varier", op. 57(http://imslp.org/wiki/L'Art_de_Varier,_Op.57_(Reicha,_Anton))

 

It has 57 variations over a theme. It may become quite handy^^

Thank you. That's a lot of material to keep me occupated 24/7 ^^ . It's a pity that a recording is hard to find on youtube or on google as well. I suppose that you haven't find any as well? 

Thank you. That's a lot of material to keep me occupated 24/7 ^^ . It's a pity that a recording is hard to find on youtube or on google as well. I suppose that you haven't find any as well? 

It's difficult indeed, but there is one here: http://classical-music-online.net/en/production/34100.

Enjoy^^

It's difficult indeed, but there is one here: http://classical-music-online.net/en/production/34100.

Enjoy^^

Oh man. Thank you thousand tiiiiiimes.

maybe I should stop always thanking in my every message but I just want to express how much I appreciate the time you and others found for me

Can't wait to get over with my necessary assignments so I can just dive right into this in the peace of school library. Woohoo ^^

Another Idea for a question crossed my mind:

What do you found out or think that are the most common  mistakes people do in variations?