Improvariations

The 16-bar theme in question opens this little work in natural harmonics. There follows six short variations which, judging from the title, started out life as improvisations. Fair enough. The first variation sticks pretty rigidly to the theme but harmonises it with some friendly jazz-influenced chords. No. 2 is full of moving arpeggios with the theme outlined every so often in the midst of the action. No. 3 takes things a step further with a triplet arpeggio idea, again using the theme at salient points in the bar. No. 4 is chordal to begin with building into a slightly altered version of the theme further on. The thematic material bynow is going harmonically further away from the simple nature of the theme so that when we get to variations 5 and 6 the harmonies are much more modern and yet remain perfectly approachable. No. 5 is in a mixture of 12/8, 9/8 and 6/8 whilst the final No. 6 constantly shifts time signature and builds to a brief chordal climax before dying away on a bare A minor open fifth. An interesting work, this item proved quite short and quite unusual but completely successful in its stylish mixture of folk song and modern harmonies. This might prove a good middle-of-recital work for anyone wanting a new five-or-six-minute piece for their programme. Nicely produced as always with no page turn problems. Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine)