The Variations on a Theme of Corelli, composed in 1931, is Rachmaninoff’s last original work for solo piano, and the only solo-piano work composed between 1917 and his death in 1943.
Despite their title, the twenty brief variations are based not on a theme of Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713), but on the popular melody La Folia (“Madness”), which Corelli had used for his Sonata, Op. 5, No. 12, for violin. It is actually an old Iberian folkdance tune, and is said to have been introduced to Rachmaninoff by Fritz Kreisler, to whom the Variations are dedicated. La Folia first appeared in the sixteenth century and has been used by over 150 composers over the course of ensuing centuries.
The Variations are among Rachmaninoff’s finest work, though they are fiendishly difficult and gnarly in their complexity. They have a large-scale structure and a clarity of line lacking in some of his earlier works, and he handles the sad theme with greater rhythmic and harmonic freedom than elsewhere. Noël Goodwin points out that “it is impossible not to see in these Corelli Variations a precursor of the ever-popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, for piano and orchestra.”Program notes by Earl Wild
Classical Music | Piano Music
Sergei Rachmaninov
Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op 42 Play
Recorded on 10/26/2016, uploaded on 05/17/2017
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
The Variations on a Theme of Corelli, composed in 1931, is Rachmaninoff’s last original work for solo piano, and the only solo-piano work composed between 1917 and his death in 1943.
Despite their title, the twenty brief variations are based not on a theme of Arcangelo Corelli (1653 – 1713), but on the popular melody La Folia (“Madness”), which Corelli had used for his Sonata, Op. 5, No. 12, for violin. It is actually an old Iberian folkdance tune, and is said to have been introduced to Rachmaninoff by Fritz Kreisler, to whom the Variations are dedicated. La Folia first appeared in the sixteenth century and has been used by over 150 composers over the course of ensuing centuries.
The Variations are among Rachmaninoff’s finest work, though they are fiendishly difficult and gnarly in their complexity. They have a large-scale structure and a clarity of line lacking in some of his earlier works, and he handles the sad theme with greater rhythmic and harmonic freedom than elsewhere. Noël Goodwin points out that “it is impossible not to see in these Corelli Variations a precursor of the ever-popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, for piano and orchestra.” Program notes by Earl Wild
More music by Sergei Rachmaninov
Romance, Op. 11 No. 5
Prelude Op. 3, No. 2, in c-sharp minor
Prelude Op. 32, No. 5, in G Major
Etude-Tableau in A minor, Op. 39, No. 6
Loneliness, Op. 21 No. 6
Prelude Op. 23 No. 5
Moment Musicaux Op. 16, No. 3
Prelude Op. 23, No. 10, in G-flat Major
Serenade, Op. 3
Moment Musicaux Op. 16, No. 4
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Courtesy of International Music Foundation.