Whew! It's been one heck of a week! I could really use a little Britten to start the weekend!

Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10

Written by Benjamin Britten in 1937, Variations is dedicated to Frank Bridge, Britten's music teacher.

Introduction and Theme
Variation 1: Adagio
Variation 2: March
Variation 3: Romance
Variation 4: Aria Italiana
Variation 5: Bourrée classique
Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer
Variation 7: Moto perpetuo
Variation 8: Funeral March
Variation 9: Chant
Variation 10: Fugue and Finale

Each of the ten variations is a musical representation of specific qualities in Bridge's personality, but "reflected through the prism of Britten's own personality."

From Wikipedia:

"The Adagio represented Bridge's integrity; the March was his energy; the Romance his charm; the Aria Italiana his humour; the Bourrée his tradition; the Wiener Walzer his enthusiasm; the Moto perpetuo his vitality; the Funeral March his sympathy; the Chant was his reverence; the Fugue was his skill (it contains a number of references to other works by Bridge; and their mutual affection appears in the Finale."

My favorite of the variations is the Funeral March. It sounds as though it came straight out of a horror film!

-Svelto