Gabriel Fauré prefered small and free-style form in piano works. Almost of his piano works takes less than 10 minutes. The exceptions are "Ballade" (Op.19) and "Thème et Varations" (Op.73).
In contrast to his chamber music works, his interests in piano works were intimate modulations, not structure. However, "Thème et Varations" is the very classical style of variations with great constraints. A lot of people praise this work because of the variety of his harmony, modulation techniques, rhythms and highly considered configuration.
This variations consists of one theme and eleven variations. Surprisingly, the same key --- C sharp minor --- is used through the variations except finale. Finale is written in C sharp major. His configuration of variations are the very genius.
All variations are full of Fauré's inspirations. Besides, variation IX is the best among them. It was described by Alfred Cortot, 'a day, lifted ecstasy, where on the high G sharp, the curve of the melody, the heart sinks down like a star in the evening'.
4/4, The theme is like slow march with the feature of dotted notes. Bass melody lacks notes of 1st and 3rd tact, so gives us instabilities.
The theme is expressed in bassline. Treble sensible melody counterpoints subtlely.
The variation get faster than the second. Treble melody is interrupted by semiquaver rests.
Normal semiquavers and triplet are appear alternatively. The rhtymic comparison are interesting.
Three voices brilliantly cross. High voice and low voice are arpeggios and middle voice sings theme.
Accompaniment, which progress with third or sixth duet, is simple and beautiful.
Theme appears slowly in bass, in contrast to downwards progress of soprano.
Four voices with syncopation are developing like canon.
Inner middle voices with third moves quietly. Soprano is simple, and bass is syncopated.
Off-beat accompaniment supports the melodies of soprano and bass. This variation shows Fauré's geniousness about his modulation.
Middle voice moves quickly. scherzo is developing.
Four voices sing with strict polyphonic, but meter freely altenates between 3/4 and 4/4.
I was fascinated at the great piece when I was in nineteen. At that time this variation was very mysterious for me, and I thought that hard exercise would solve the vague mood. However, I didn't exercise hardly and mystery still exists.
Marinkyo's Room > Fauré's Room > Fauré:Theme and Variations (Thème et Varations)
