It might be one of the oldest ideas in all of music (of any kind!), but, how did it develop in our Western classical music tradition? John and Evan explore what makes a theme and variations, 4 specific types to listen for, and a modern example using a theme you wouldn't expect!

Show Notes

An early example from JS Bach, his Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582 

Reitze Smits, organist

Mozart's "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" variations, see how many different variation types you can hear!

Clara Haskil, piano

A great way to understand modern theme and variations!

In this video, a reduced score follows the music with the ever-evolving theme highlighted in red.