Variations on a Nursery Tune (Dohnányi)
Encyclopedia
The Variations on a Nursery Tune, Op. 25, is a piece for piano
and orchestra
by Ernő Dohnányi
. It is subtitled For the enjoyment of humorous people and for the annoyance of others.
Written in 1914, it captures the spirit of Romanticism
, and manages to delight and enthral in its sparkling piano writing and lush orchestral textures, and its wit in the treatment of the theme – the French nursery song Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman, otherwise known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
. Like Dohnányi, Mozart
also wrote variations on this nursery tune (K. 265/300e).
The Variations on a Nursery Tune consists of an Introduction and Theme, 13 Variations and a Coda. The Introduction is Wagnerian
in its writing, with faux pathos, brasses blaring and strings thick and dense. The outline of the theme appears indistinctly but unmistakably in the horns, a hint of what is to come. After a long drawn-out conclusion which grows ever quieter while continually building the tension, we have a belch from the orchestra and a pregnant pause, followed by a quiet restatement of the theme on the piano accompanied by pizzicato strings.
What follows is a witty, artful set of variations ranging from the innocent first variation to the romantic third variation, the scurrying sixth variation, the boisterous, overcooked waltz in the seventh variation and the pathos-laden seventh variation which alludes to the Wagnerian opening. Dohnányi treats the piano and orchestra as equals – every instrument is given its chance to shine.
Dohnányi alludes to many different works, or composers, in the piece. For instance, variation 8 suggests the march from the second movement of Tchaikovsky
's "Little Russian" Symphony
. Debussy
is alluded to, with the ethereal harmonies of the 11th variation. Dohnányi pokes fun at nearly every composer his audience of 1914 would have been familiar with.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
by Ernő Dohnányi
Erno Dohnányi
Ernő Dohnányi was a Hungarian conductor, composer, and pianist. He used the German form of his name Ernst von Dohnányi for most of his published compositions....
. It is subtitled For the enjoyment of humorous people and for the annoyance of others.
Written in 1914, it captures the spirit of Romanticism
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
, and manages to delight and enthral in its sparkling piano writing and lush orchestral textures, and its wit in the treatment of the theme – the French nursery song Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman, otherwise known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a popular English nursery rhyme. The lyrics are from an early nineteenth-century English poem, "The Star" by Jane Taylor. The poem, which is in couplet form, was first published in 1806 in Rhymes for the Nursery, a collection of poems by Taylor and her sister Ann...
. Like Dohnányi, Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
also wrote variations on this nursery tune (K. 265/300e).
The Variations on a Nursery Tune consists of an Introduction and Theme, 13 Variations and a Coda. The Introduction is Wagnerian
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
in its writing, with faux pathos, brasses blaring and strings thick and dense. The outline of the theme appears indistinctly but unmistakably in the horns, a hint of what is to come. After a long drawn-out conclusion which grows ever quieter while continually building the tension, we have a belch from the orchestra and a pregnant pause, followed by a quiet restatement of the theme on the piano accompanied by pizzicato strings.
What follows is a witty, artful set of variations ranging from the innocent first variation to the romantic third variation, the scurrying sixth variation, the boisterous, overcooked waltz in the seventh variation and the pathos-laden seventh variation which alludes to the Wagnerian opening. Dohnányi treats the piano and orchestra as equals – every instrument is given its chance to shine.
Dohnányi alludes to many different works, or composers, in the piece. For instance, variation 8 suggests the march from the second movement of Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's "Little Russian" Symphony
Symphony No. 2 (Tchaikovsky)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 in 1872. One of Tchaikovsky's very joyous compositions, it was successful upon its premiere; it also won the favor of the group of nationalistic Russian composers known as "The Five", led by Mily Balakirev...
. Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
is alluded to, with the ethereal harmonies of the 11th variation. Dohnányi pokes fun at nearly every composer his audience of 1914 would have been familiar with.