Symphony Atlas

Form

Theme and variations

A theme is stated plainly, then repeated several times with something changed each time. What stays fixed is usually the length of the theme and the sequence of its harmonies. What changes is everything else: the melody is decorated, the rhythm is doubled or tripled in speed, the tune moves to the left hand or the bass, the mode flips from major to minor, the texture becomes a march or a fugue.

How to hear theme and variations

Browse by

17 works

HaydnPiano Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:481789HaydnPiano Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI:491790HaydnPiano Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI:521794HaydnSymphony No. 103 in E-flat major1795MozartPiano Sonata No. 6 in D major, K. 2841775MozartPiano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K. 3311783BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14 No. 21799BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 261801BeethovenSymphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 551804BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 571805BeethovenSymphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 671808BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 1091820BeethovenPiano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 1111822BeethovenSymphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 1251824BrahmsSymphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 981885DvorakSymphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 881889MahlerSymphony No. 4 in G major1900