fbpx
Wikipedia

Variations: Aldous Huxley in memoriam

January 01, 1970

Variations: Aldous Huxley in memoriam is Igor Stravinsky's last major orchestral composition, written in 1963–64.

History edit

Stravinsky began work on the Variations in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in July 1963, and completed the composition in Hollywood, California, on 28 October 1964. It was first performed in Chicago on 17 April 1965, by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Craft.[1][2] The score is dedicated to the memory of Stravinsky's close friend Aldous Huxley, who died on 22 November 1963 (the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated), when composition of the Variations was in progress.[3]

Although not composed for the purpose, Stravinsky's music was twice choreographed for the New York City Ballet by George Balanchine, a first version in 1966, and a second version in 1982, both times under the title Variations.[4][5]

Analysis edit

The Variations are based on a twelve-note row:[6][7][8][9]

D C A B E A♯ G♯ C♯ D♯ G F♯ F

Opinions about the form differ. According to one view, the work consists of twelve variations: bars 1–22, 23–33, 33–39, 40–46, 47–58, 59–72, 73–85, 86–94, 95–100, 101–117, 118–129, and 130–141.[10] According to another, bars 33/34–46 comprise a single variation, Var. 3, so there are only eleven in all, ranging from 6 to 22 bars in length, some of which are subdivided into two or three component sections.[11] According to yet another, a prelude and postlude frame three main sections, the first two separated by a short episode, and the second and third by a more extended section divided into five episodes.[12] There is no "theme" on whose melodic, rhythmic, or formal characteristics the variations are constructed, nor are there any conventional compositional variation techniques.[1]

The central feature of the Variations is a duodecet, or twelve-part invention, which is divided into three parts, separated by contrasting episodes and each with a different scoring: twelve solo violins, ten solo violas with two double basses, and twelve winds (two flutes, alto flute, the oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, and horn). Metrically, this invention uses a regularly recurring succession of 4
8 + 3
8 + 5
8 bars, with each of the three large sections containing four of these three-bar units.[13]

Instrumentation edit

  • 2 flutes
  • alto flute
  • 2 oboes
  • cor anglais
  • 2 clarinets
  • bass clarinet
  • 2 bassoons
  • 4 horns
  • 3 trumpets
  • 2 tenor trombones
  • bass trombone
  • harp
  • piano
  • 12 violins
  • 10 violas
  • 8 cellos
  • 4 double basses

References edit

  1. ^ a b Spies 1965, 62.
  2. ^ White 1979, 534.
  3. ^ White 1979, 533, 536–537.
  4. ^ Barnes 1966.
  5. ^ Anderson 1982.
  6. ^ Spies 1965, 66.
  7. ^ Kohl 1979–80, 392.
  8. ^ Phillips 1984, 69.
  9. ^ Straus 2001, 201.
  10. ^ Spies 1965, 62–63.
  11. ^ Phillips 1984, 70.
  12. ^ White 1979, 536.
  13. ^ White 1979, 535.

Sources

  • Anderson, Jack. 1982. "Ballet: Suzanne Farrell in Variations Premiere". The New York Times (4 July).
  • Barnes, Clive. 1966. "Ballet: Still Another Balanchine-Stravinsky Pearl; City Troupe Performs in Premiere Here Variations for Huxley at State Theater". The New York Times (1 April): 28.
  • Kohl, Jerome. 1979–80. "Exposition in Stravinsky's Orchestral Variations". Perspectives of New Music 18, nos. 1 and 2 (Fall–Winter and Spring–Summer): 391–405.
  • Phillips, Paul Schuyler. 1984. "The Enigma of Variations: A Study of Stravinsky's Final Work for Orchestra". Music Analysis 3, no. 1:69–89.
  • Spies, Claudio. 1965. "Notes on Stravinsky's Variations". Perspectives of New Music 4, no. 1 (Fall–Winter): 62–74. Reprinted in Perspectives on Schoenberg and Stravinsky, revised edition, edited by Benjamin Boretz and Edward T. Cone, 210–222. New York: W. W. Norton, 1972.
  • Straus, Joseph N. 2001. Stravinsky's Late Music. Cambridge Studies in Music Theory and Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-60288-2.
  • White, Eric Walter. 1979. Stravinsky: The Composer and His Works, second edition. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-03985-8.

Further reading edit

  • Wuorinen, Charles, and Jeffrey Kresky. 1986. "On the Significance of Stravinsky's Last Works". In Confronting Stravinsky: Man, Musician, and Modernist, edited by Jann Pasler, 262–270. Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-05403-2.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
variations, aldous, huxley, memoriam, igor, stravinsky, last, major, orchestral, composition, written, 1963, contents, history, analysis, instrumentation, references, further, reading, external, linkshistory, editstravinsky, began, work, variations, santa, mex. Variations Aldous Huxley in memoriam is Igor Stravinsky s last major orchestral composition written in 1963 64 Contents 1 History 2 Analysis 3 Instrumentation 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory editStravinsky began work on the Variations in Santa Fe New Mexico in July 1963 and completed the composition in Hollywood California on 28 October 1964 It was first performed in Chicago on 17 April 1965 by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Craft 1 2 The score is dedicated to the memory of Stravinsky s close friend Aldous Huxley who died on 22 November 1963 the same day that President John F Kennedy was assassinated when composition of the Variations was in progress 3 Although not composed for the purpose Stravinsky s music was twice choreographed for the New York City Ballet by George Balanchine a first version in 1966 and a second version in 1982 both times under the title Variations 4 5 Analysis editThe Variations are based on a twelve note row 6 7 8 9 D C A B E A G C D G F F Opinions about the form differ According to one view the work consists of twelve variations bars 1 22 23 33 33 39 40 46 47 58 59 72 73 85 86 94 95 100 101 117 118 129 and 130 141 10 According to another bars 33 34 46 comprise a single variation Var 3 so there are only eleven in all ranging from 6 to 22 bars in length some of which are subdivided into two or three component sections 11 According to yet another a prelude and postlude frame three main sections the first two separated by a short episode and the second and third by a more extended section divided into five episodes 12 There is no theme on whose melodic rhythmic or formal characteristics the variations are constructed nor are there any conventional compositional variation techniques 1 The central feature of the Variations is a duodecet or twelve part invention which is divided into three parts separated by contrasting episodes and each with a different scoring twelve solo violins ten solo violas with two double basses and twelve winds two flutes alto flute the oboes cor anglais two clarinets bass clarinet two bassoons and horn Metrically this invention uses a regularly recurring succession of 48 38 58 bars with each of the three large sections containing four of these three bar units 13 Instrumentation edit2 flutes alto flute 2 oboes cor anglais 2 clarinets bass clarinet 2 bassoons 4 horns 3 trumpets 2 tenor trombones bass trombone harp piano 12 violins 10 violas 8 cellos 4 double bassesReferences edit a b Spies 1965 62 White 1979 534 White 1979 533 536 537 Barnes 1966 Anderson 1982 Spies 1965 66 Kohl 1979 80 392 Phillips 1984 69 Straus 2001 201 Spies 1965 62 63 Phillips 1984 70 White 1979 536 White 1979 535 Sources Anderson Jack 1982 Ballet Suzanne Farrell in Variations Premiere The New York Times 4 July Barnes Clive 1966 Ballet Still Another Balanchine Stravinsky Pearl City Troupe Performs in Premiere Here Variations for Huxley at State Theater The New York Times 1 April 28 Kohl Jerome 1979 80 Exposition in Stravinsky s Orchestral Variations Perspectives of New Music 18 nos 1 and 2 Fall Winter and Spring Summer 391 405 Phillips Paul Schuyler 1984 The Enigma of Variations A Study of Stravinsky s Final Work for Orchestra Music Analysis 3 no 1 69 89 Spies Claudio 1965 Notes on Stravinsky s Variations Perspectives of New Music 4 no 1 Fall Winter 62 74 Reprinted in Perspectives on Schoenberg and Stravinsky revised edition edited by Benjamin Boretz and Edward T Cone 210 222 New York W W Norton 1972 Straus Joseph N 2001 Stravinsky s Late Music Cambridge Studies in Music Theory and Analysis Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 60288 2 White Eric Walter 1979 Stravinsky The Composer and His Works second edition Berkeley and Los Angeles University of California Press ISBN 0 520 03985 8 Further reading editWuorinen Charles and Jeffrey Kresky 1986 On the Significance of Stravinsky s Last Works In Confronting Stravinsky Man Musician and Modernist edited by Jann Pasler 262 270 Berkeley Los Angeles and London University of California Press ISBN 0 520 05403 2 External links editWork details Boosey amp Hawkes Animated score on YouTube London Sinfonietta Oliver Knussen Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Variations Aldous Huxley in memoriam amp oldid 1172395402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.