Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Get the album: mbulteau.bandcamp.com/album/fanaphernalia-ii
More at: mbulteau.com
Orchestral Variations is a term I use to distinguish a piece from regular variations:
- Usually, variations considerably alter the base theme while the instrumentation remains the same, so the focus is on the transformative power of the piece while retaining some connection to its origin.
- On the other hand, orchestral variations (as the name implies) are to me an exercise in orchestration. They do not strive to alter the base theme too much, but instead focus on varying the timbres and tone colours every time it is restated. The coda (conclusion) is usually the only truly different section.
SECTIONS:
00:00 Introduction
00:06 Theme A on piano
00:31 Theme B on clarinet, piano, & cello
00:45 Variation I A: clarinet, piano, & cello
01:09 Variation I B: flute, harp, piano, cello, & double bass
01:23 Variation II A: clarinet, snare drum, xylophone, harpsichord, cellos, & double basses
01:48 Variation II B: woodwinds, harp, harpsichord, piano, & strings
02:02 Short development on flute & harp
02:15 Variation III A (partial): strings
02:28 Variation III B: woodwinds, harp & strings
02:41 Variation IV A: woodwinds, horns, timpani, snare drum, xylophone, harpsichord strings
03:06 Introduction as key change
03:12 Variation V A: tutti
03:36 Coda
03:43 Support the artist
Get the album: mbulteau.bandcamp.com/album/fanaphernalia-ii
More at: mbulteau.com
Orchestral Variations is a term I use to distinguish a piece from regular variations:
- Usually, variations considerably alter the base theme while the instrumentation remains the same, so the focus is on the transformative power of the piece while retaining some connection to its origin.
- On the other hand, orchestral variations (as the name implies) are to me an exercise in orchestration. They do not strive to alter the base theme too much, but instead focus on varying the timbres and tone colours every time it is restated. The coda (conclusion) is usually the only truly different section.
SECTIONS:
00:00 Introduction
00:06 Theme A on piano
00:31 Theme B on clarinet, piano, & cello
00:45 Variation I A: clarinet, piano, & cello
01:09 Variation I B: flute, harp, piano, cello, & double bass
01:23 Variation II A: clarinet, snare drum, xylophone, harpsichord, cellos, & double basses
01:48 Variation II B: woodwinds, harp, harpsichord, piano, & strings
02:02 Short development on flute & harp
02:15 Variation III A (partial): strings
02:28 Variation III B: woodwinds, harp & strings
02:41 Variation IV A: woodwinds, horns, timpani, snare drum, xylophone, harpsichord strings
03:06 Introduction as key change
03:12 Variation V A: tutti
03:36 Coda
03:43 Support the artist
