Product Description
The Raymond Variations for Piano (Set 1), received its world premiere on 2nd December 2015 at the 1901 Arts Club London, performed by Lorraine Womack-Banning as part of a memorial tribute concert to her late husband Raymond Banning (former professor of pianoforte at Trinity College London).
The Variations are based on the three Andantino themes which form a central part of the Raymond Overture written in 1851 by French composer Ambroise Thomas: 1811-1896. There are nine piano variations in total; these include a mix of both full and short partial variations (including a very short declamatory two chord introductory variation). The variations are not numbered or set-apart in a conventional manner, rather they form part of a continuous whole, and are separated only by bridge passages and/or cadence points; they last a little under eight minutes in duration, and strongly exploit the passionate elements of Thomass themes. They have been written for the most part in an accessible tonal style (with a passing nod to Messrs. Beethoven and J.S. Bach) and are based predominately in the home key of D minor, but they do also take advantage of many 20th and 21st century harmonic techniques where deemed appropriate:
e.g. added note chords; cluster chords; percussive chords, and melodic deflection. In particular, the interval of the major 7th and its enharmonic equivalent(s) (the most distinctive interval in the main andantino theme from
the overture) is heard in various different guises throughout the variations: this includes its inversion the minor 2nd which has a very distinctive sharp dissonant quality. Much play is made of these intervals to somewhat humorous effect in variation 8 (the joker in the pack) heard some three quarters into the set, here the dissonant interval is pounded out double forte before hastily leading into some boisterous cluster harmonic instability; then quietly begins variation 9 which duly brings the set to a close. Look out for the sting in the tail!
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