≈ History ≈ {adapted from the Grove Dictionary} In 1819, Austrian composer Anton Diabelli {1781-1858}, an aspiring music publisher, developed a plan to circulate a waltz of his own invention to the notable composers working in Austria at the time {Czerny, Hummel, Kalkbrenner and Schubert being, perhaps, the most recognizable names} and requested each of them to contribute a variation for the Vaterländische Künstlerverein {roughly translated as the National Artists' Association} - a grandiose plan for promoting his newly-formed business. Beethoven was among the selected and, as legend would have it, expressed an initial distaste for the project. Yet the composer, perhaps in view of the financial rewards behind the endeavor, began work on a set of grand variations on Diabelli′s theme that very year by writing 23 variations, then laying the piece aside for several years and finally expanding the piece in early 1823. Beethoven′s oeuvre was promptly published in June 1823. Diabelli′s persistence enabled the second half of the project, ultimately consisting of more than 50 variations from 51 contemporary composers, to be printed in 1824. By that time, however, Beethoven′s set came to overshadow the raison-d′etre of the tome. ≈ Music ≈ As per usual, the posting presents an arrangement of selections from both volumes, as identified below. a. Diabelli. Whether or not Beethoven himself actually dismissed the original waltz as a "cobbler's patch", its symmetrical phrases and unaffected simplicity certainly fit the description. Though lively, the theme in itself seems prosaic, and, as Bülow notes, the waltz "is protected from obsolescence by... its melodic neutrality". b. Beethoven. Nothing of the sort can be said of Beethoven′s Op. 120. A monumental oeuvre, it represents a veritable triumph of the composer over his somewhat poor starting material. Indeed, in the variations, the waltz is completely deconstructed, and Beethoven approaches the theme pragmatically, working with its smallest elements - the opening turn, the descending fourth and fifth, the repeated notes - and builds upon them pieces of great imagination. As Brendel writes, "the theme has ceased to reign over its unruly offspring; rather, the variations decide what the theme may have to offer them". 3: Poco allegro {3:22}. 6: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso {1:51}. 7: Un poco piu allegro {20:26}. 14: Grave e maestoso {23:07}. 16: Allegro {17:47}. 18: Poco moderato {11:42}. 23: Allegro assai {9:48}. 24: Andante (Fughetta) {26:37} 30: Andante, sempre cantabile {7:40}. 31: Largo, molto espressivo {13:32}. c. Other composers. {Selections denoted in the video by asterisks} On the other hand, Volume II is a problematic collection. Diabelli′s scheme was certainly shrewd from a commercial perspective, but the length and breadth of the volume are not matched by its artistic value. There is no structure {alphabetical ordering of the composers′ surname notwithstanding}, and, as the musicians were working in relative independence, a clear musical progression is absent with many pieces written in similar vein. Out of the 50+ piece, preciously few efforts rise above the level of workmanlike. But the tome does hide several charming variations, some of which are included in the posting: 3: Vivace {0:56} by Carl Czerny. 20: Moderato con espressione {4:52} by Joseph Kerzkowsky. 24: Allegro {10:45} by Franz Liszt. 38: Andante {21:25} by Franz Schubert. 43: Tempo giusto {18:43} by Václav Tomášek. d. Suggested titles. I have used Brendel′s effective titles for the variations by Beethoven and provided my own suggested descriptions for the variations of the other composers. ≈ Scores ≈ Sheet music for both sets of variations is available on IMSLP: http://imslp.org/wiki/50_Variations_on_a_Waltz_by_Diabelli_%28Diabelli,_Anton%29 {Volume I} http://imslp.org/wiki/Ver%C3%A4nderungen_%C3%BCber_einen_Walzer,_Op.120_%28Beethoven,_Ludwig_van%29 {Volume II} ≈ Recordings ≈ The 1997 Teldec recording by pianist Rudolp Buchbinder is a well-balanced account of both volumes of the Vaterländischer Künstlerverein and, to my knowledge, the only complete rendition of the entire opus. Hope you'll enjoy =).