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Beethoven Thesaurus

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Term record

Variation form
AU:
BBD a10009942
D:
For general discussions, may subdivide by period (Classical, Romantic, 20th century)
H:
MT Music terms
T:
May subdivide by: Codas
W:
May also be used as a subdivision to terms in the Works List (WL) hierarchy
SN:
In its simplest sense the "theme and variation" embodies a principle of strophic repetition: a theme with a particular structure is followed by a series of discrete pieces with the same or very similar structure. In each variation, some elements of the theme remain constant while others change, and this form-defining relationship between constant and changing elements depends on historical and stylistic context, on genre, and on whether the set is an independent piece or a movement in a larger work (New Harvard Dictionary of Music)
BT:
Form
RT:
Alternating variation form
 
Chaconne form
 
Diminutions
 
Variations