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* Paganini: ''Caprice XXIV'', one of the most famous virtuosic violin pieces, which Music/SergeiRachmaninoff famously turned into a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKTPDg0IW0 Rhapsody for symphony orchestra and piano]].

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* Paganini: ''Caprice XXIV'', one of the most famous virtuosic violin pieces, which Music/SergeiRachmaninoff famously turned into a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKTPDg0IW0 Rhapsody for symphony orchestra and piano]].piano]], and inspired variations by several other composers including Brahms.

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Examples are very common in ClassicalMusic, but here are some notable ones:

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Examples are very Very common in ClassicalMusic, but here are some notable ones:
ClassicalMusic.
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!!Examples:

[[AC:Music]]
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* Music/EdwardElgar: ''Enigma Variations''. Unusual in that the theme is not played first, and in fact Elgar refused to tell what it actually is.

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* Music/EdwardElgar: ''Enigma Variations''. Unusual in Variations'' on an original theme; Elgar also claimed that the theme is not linked to another theme, but it is never played first, and in fact Elgar [[RiddleForTheAges refused to tell say what it actually is.is]].
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* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor, and ''Eroica Variations.''

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* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor, and ''Eroica Variations.''Variations'' (so called because the theme had also been used in his ''Eroica'' symphony), and most famously the ''Diabelli Variations''.
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* Creator/JohannesBrahms: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRu7CMg6wSs Variations on a Theme by]] Music/JosephHaydn''

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* Creator/JohannesBrahms: Music/JohannesBrahms: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRu7CMg6wSs Variations on a Theme by]] Music/JosephHaydn''

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This form is related to the [=passacaglia=] a.k.a. [=Chaconne=], which seems like a derivative idea of this form but actually predates it (though the idea of making variations on stuff of course predates both).

Sometimes, an entire [=soundtrack=] is built off of this concept: see ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack.

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This form is related to Related Classical forms include the [=passacaglia=] a.k.a. [=Chaconne=], Ground Bass form, Passacaglia form, Chaconne form[[note]]where varying melodies are played on top of a repeating bass/harmonic line. You're unlikely to get a consistent answer if you ask a music historian what the difference between the three are, so you shouldn't bother.[[/note]], the Fugue[[note]]a contrapuntal piece where a single theme called the "subject" is introduced in a single voice, and then is repeated and varied in the other voices throughout the piece[[/note]], and Isorhythm[[note]]where a repeating rhythmic pattern is used, sometimes with a repeating melodic pattern often of a different length[[/note]], which seems like a derivative idea of this all predate the Classical-era "Theme and Variations" form but actually predates it (though the idea of making variations on stuff of course having a central "theme" that a piece is built around predates both).

all of them).

Sometimes, an entire [=soundtrack=] soundtrack is built off of this concept: see ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack.



* Music/JohannSebastianBach: [=Goldberg Variations=]. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a [=Passacaglia=] actually), ''Eroica Variations.''

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* Music/JohannSebastianBach: [=Goldberg Variations=].Goldberg Variations. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* Music/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a [=Passacaglia=] actually), minor, and ''Eroica Variations.''



* Creator/JohannesBrahms: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRu7CMg6wSs Variations on a Theme by]] Music/JosephHaydn''



* Paganini: ''Variations on a Theme in G'', which was later adapted by Julian Lloyd-Webber (Andrew's more musically inclined brother) into a hit LP and theme for a TV arts show.

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* Paganini: ''Variations on a Theme in G'', ''Caprice XXIV'', one of the most famous virtuosic violin pieces, which was later adapted by Julian Lloyd-Webber (Andrew's more musically inclined brother) Music/SergeiRachmaninoff famously turned into a hit LP [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKTPDg0IW0 Rhapsody for symphony orchestra and theme for a TV arts show.piano]].
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* Creator/JohannSebastianBach: [=Goldberg Variations=]. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a [=Passacaglia=] actually), ''Eroica Variations.''

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* Creator/JohannSebastianBach: Music/JohannSebastianBach: [=Goldberg Variations=]. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven: Music/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a [=Passacaglia=] actually), ''Eroica Variations.''
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* Creator/WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)

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* Creator/WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)
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The South Bank Show

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* Paganini: ''Variations on a Theme in G'', which was later adapted by Julian Lloyd-Webber (Andrew's more musically inclined brother) into a hit LP and theme for a TV arts show.
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A MusicalForm found mostly in ClassicalMusic in which there is a theme, for which embellished, simplified, complexified, or otherwise altered versions are composed. Generally speaking, it is customary to perform the theme first, followed by the variations, in an order specified by the composer.

This form is related to the {{Passacaglia}} a.k.a. {{Chaconne}}, which seems like a derivative idea of this form but actually predates it (though the idea of making variations on stuff of course predates both).

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A MusicalForm Musical Form found mostly in ClassicalMusic in which there is a theme, for which embellished, simplified, complexified, or otherwise altered versions are composed. Generally speaking, it is customary to perform the theme first, followed by the variations, in an order specified by the composer.

This form is related to the {{Passacaglia}} [=passacaglia=] a.k.a. {{Chaconne}}, [=Chaconne=], which seems like a derivative idea of this form but actually predates it (though the idea of making variations on stuff of course predates both).



* Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a {{Passacaglia}} actually), EroicaVariations
* BenjaminBritten: TheYoungPersonsGuideToTheOrchestra (subtitled "Variations and Fugue on a theme by Purcell")
* FryderykChopin: Variations on "La ci darem la mano"
* EdwardElgar: EnigmaVariations. Unusual in that the theme is not played first, and in fact Elgar refused to tell what it actually is.
* Music/GeorgeFredericHandel: TheHarmoniousBlacksmith (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])
* WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)

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* Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a {{Passacaglia}} [=Passacaglia=] actually), EroicaVariations
''Eroica Variations.''
* BenjaminBritten: TheYoungPersonsGuideToTheOrchestra Benjamin Britten: ''The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra'' (subtitled "Variations and Fugue on a theme by Purcell")
* FryderykChopin: Music/FryderykChopin: Variations on "La ci darem la mano"
* EdwardElgar: EnigmaVariations.Music/EdwardElgar: ''Enigma Variations''. Unusual in that the theme is not played first, and in fact Elgar refused to tell what it actually is.
* Music/GeorgeFredericHandel: TheHarmoniousBlacksmith ''The Harmonious Blacksmith'' (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])
* WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Creator/WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)
)
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Sometimes, an entire {{soundtrack}} is built off of this concept: see ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack.

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Sometimes, an entire {{soundtrack}} [=soundtrack=] is built off of this concept: see ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack.



* JohannSebastianBach: GoldbergVariations. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a {{passacaglia}} actually), EroicaVariations

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* JohannSebastianBach: GoldbergVariations.Creator/JohannSebastianBach: [=Goldberg Variations=]. Since Bach was symmetry-obsessed, the original aria is repeated after the last variation.
* LudwigVanBeethoven: Creator/LudwigVanBeethoven: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXX9xP7xXs Six Variations]], 32 Variations in C minor (which is more like a {{passacaglia}} {{Passacaglia}} actually), EroicaVariations



* GeorgeFredericHandel: TheHarmoniousBlacksmith (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])

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* GeorgeFredericHandel: Music/GeorgeFredericHandel: TheHarmoniousBlacksmith (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])
Willbyr MOD

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killing ptitle markup


* BenjaminBritten: [=~The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra~=] (subtitled "Variations and Fugue on a theme by Purcell")

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* BenjaminBritten: [=~The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra~=] TheYoungPersonsGuideToTheOrchestra (subtitled "Variations and Fugue on a theme by Purcell")



* WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on [[strike:TwinkleTwinkleLittleStar]] "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)

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* WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on [[strike:TwinkleTwinkleLittleStar]] "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (better known to English-speakers as the tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.))

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* GeorgeFredericHandel, TheHarmoniousBlacksmith (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])
* WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Variations on [[strike:TwinkleTwinkleLittleStar]] "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (as that's what the song was called there)

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* GeorgeFredericHandel, GeorgeFredericHandel: TheHarmoniousBlacksmith (video [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLb3ls2m_g here]])
* WolfgangAmadeusMozart, WolfgangAmadeusMozart: Variations on [[strike:TwinkleTwinkleLittleStar]] "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman" (as that's what (better known to English-speakers as the song was called there)tune for ''Twinkle, twinkle little star''.)

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