Theme and Variations for Solo Violin
Brian Raphael NaborsPiece Duration: 06:41
About this Piece
Sheet Music: https://issuu.com/brianraphaelnabors/docs/theme___variations_for_solo_violin_
Pizzicato: This piece features three different types of pizzicato! Normal pizzicato, Left Hand Pizzicato, and Snap Pizzicato! Listen for each, below.
Theme and Variation: The composer writes - "I often enjoy writing a set of variations as it gives the composer an artistic playground of musical possibilities and explores new technical dynamics of familiar instruments. It's my hope that listener and performer alike enjoy this fun, short, showpiece as much as I have enjoyed composing it."
Click below to hear any of these sections on their own:
-Theme: 0:00
-Variation 1: 0:23 (Left Hand Pizzicato)
-Variation 2: 0:52 (Glissandos)
-Variation 3: 1:20 (Pizzicato / Percussion)
-Variation 4: 1:47 (Snap Pizzicato / Trills)
-Variation 5: 2:47 (Presto)
-Variation 6: 3:17 (Oblique Motion / Double Stops)
-Variation 7: 3:52 (Extended Technique: Harmonics)
-Variation 8: 5:02 (Double Stops)
-Variation 9: 5:48 (Arpeggios)
Notable Passages
Description:
The violinist begins with the theme! The nine variations that follow will be inspired by this one section!
Keywords: Theme and Variation - Composition Technique , Theme and Variation - Form
Description:
Variation 1: Left Hand Pizzicato
To tell the violinist to play pizzicato with their left hand instead of their right hand, the notes are marked with a plus sign "+" above them. Try explaining that to a math teacher, yikes!
Keywords: Pizzicato
Description:
Variation 2: Glissandos
Watch these notes slip and slide around the fingerboard, as the violinist glissandos from one to the next!
Keywords: Glissando
Description:
Variation 3: Pizzicato / Percussion
Notice how the violinist uses pizzicato, with moments of hand drumming or tapping on the body of the violin!
Keywords: Pizzicato
Description:
Variation 4: Snap Pizzicato / Trills
The violinist alternates between Snap Pizzicato (a forceful pizzicato where the string hits the fingerboard below, creating a "snap" sound), and fast trills between two different notes!
(Note: These trills are between notes farther than one step apart)
Keywords: Pizzicato , Trill , Extended Technique - Expressive Elements , Extended Technique - Composition Technique
Description:
Variation 5: Presto
The composer marks "furiously" in the score! This fast tempo and rhythms look like a lot of fun to play, and are so exciting for the listener!
Keywords: Presto
Description:
Variation 6: Oblique Motion / Double Stops
Here the violinist plays two strings at the same time! One of the two notes often stays the same, while the other one moves upward or downward. Use the score (bottom of pg. 8, ms. 66-84) to help you find these moments!
Keywords: Oblique Motion , Double Stops
Description:
Variation 7: Harmonics
The violinist creates overtones by placing a finger lightly on the string. This causes the string to vibrate on both sides of the finger, creating an overtone that has a high, ghostly whistling sound!
Keywords: Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Extended Technique - Expressive Elements
Description:
Variation 8: Double Stops
The violinist uses the bow to play two strings at the same time!
Keywords: Double Stops
Description:
Variation 9: Arpeggios
The composer fills this variation with arpeggios up and down the violin! What an exciting ending!
Keywords: Arpeggio - Composition Technique , Arpeggio - Melodic