Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky,Op. 35a, a piece forstring orchestrabyAnton Arensky,started out as the slow movement of his String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 35, for the unusual scoring of violin, viola, and 2 cellos. It was written in 1894, the year after the death ofPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,in a tribute to that composer.[1]It is based on the theme from the song "Legend",the fifth of Tchaikovsky'sSixteen Children's Songs,Op. 54.[2]
Tchaikovsky's song was originally set to a Russian translation byAleksey Pleshcheyevof a poem in English called "Roses and Thorns" by the American poetRichard Henry Stoddard.[3][4]
At the first performance of the quartet, the slow movement was so well received that Arensky soon arranged it as a separate piece for string orchestra, Op. 35a, in which form it has remained among the most popular of all Arensky's works.[1][3]
Structure
editAfter Tchaikovsky's theme is heard, the piece has sevenVariationsfollowed by aCoda,set out as follows (mostly in the key ofE minor):[1]
- Theme, Moderato
- Variation I, Un poco più mosso -
- Variation II, Allegro non troppo - Starting with a suddenchord,the theme is heard in the lower strings.
- Variation III, Andantino tranquillo - Now inE major,the theme is taken up by thefirst violins.
- Variation IV,Vivace- This is a lively movement dominated by the offbeatpizzicato
- Variation V, Andante
- Variation VI, Allegro con spirito
- Variation VII, Andante con moto
- Coda: Moderato - This is a reprise of the theme, withharmonicsin the first 2 measures.