Rachel McLean

THEME & VARIATION

• Specific kind of a form in music (organization)

• Theme – the main melody

• After the melody/theme is followed by variations of the same melody

using musical elements

• Symphony No. 94 - 2nd symphony in “The London Symphonies” by Haydn

a.k.a. “Surprise Symphony”

THEME & VARIATION

Listen and keep in mind these musical elements that may create the variation

on the theme:

• Dynamics

• Minor or Major

• Rhythm

• Pitch

• Tempo

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

Using the 2 bars below as our theme we will begin to look at Haydn’s

variations on his melody

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

Dynamics

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

Minor (already Major)

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

Rhythms

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

And much, much

more….

Pitch

SYMPHONY NO. 94 “SURPRISE

SYMPHONY”

Same

theme

diff.

key

Same key Sig.

moved

everything up

(D minor)

Let’s create variations on “Ah Vous Dirai-je, Maman” By Mozart

a.k.a “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”

LET’S TRY TOGETHER