Theme and Variations for Solo Violin

Brian Raphael Nabors
Piece 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

Time Stamp: 0:00 — 0:23
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

Time Stamp: 0:23 — 0:52
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

Time Stamp: 0:52 — 1:20
Description:

Variation 2: Glissandos

Watch these notes slip and slide around the fingerboard, as the violinist glissandos from one to the next!


Keywords: Glissando

Time Stamp: 01:20 — 01:47
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

Time Stamp: 1:48 — 2:47
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: Extended Technique - Composition Technique , Extended Technique - Expressive Elements , Pizzicato , Trill - Articulation , Trill - Melody

Time Stamp: 02:47 — 03:21
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

Time Stamp: 03:17 — 03:52
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

Time Stamp: 03:52 — 05:00
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

Time Stamp: 05:02 — 05:47
Description:

Variation 8: Double Stops

The violinist uses the bow to play two strings at the same time!


Keywords: Double Stops

Time Stamp: 05:48 — 06:41
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

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