Variations for piano (1981)

These variations were written in September and October of 1981 and I performed them in a concert at my old college (Royal Holloway, London University) later that year.

The music for the rest of the programme was provided by three other composer/performers: Brian Dennis, Benedict Mason & Christopher Hobbs.

This extract is taken from a tape recording of that 1st performance, hence the lo-fi quality - sounds like it's from the early 20th Century!!

I have great affection for that time (‘Neapolitan Sixth’ was written soon after). The pieces I was writing have a very positive feel. I particularly like the fluid prose-like musical sentences in these variations. Although I was part of the trend towards pulse-based music, and got involved with MIDI and computers as soon as they arrived, it’s nice to have an alternative conception of time occasionally.

The ‘theme’ consists of not just a melody and its accompanying harmony, but also various characteristics (e.g. very open arpeggios, embellishments, spread chords, repeated notes etc.).

Each variation takes an element from this (melodic, harmonic or characteristic) and develops it.

The piano writing is virtuosic and although the 1st performance went very well I haven’t played it in concert since.

I am in the process of producing a professional quality score and would be interested to hear from any pianists brave enough to want to try performing it in concert!!