Donald Hollier: Variations On A Theme Of Sitsky (1970)

Abstract

"The idea for this work came from a row of twelve notes which Sitsky employs in his Dimensions for Piano and Two Tape Recorders. Each performance of Dimensions involves the pianist in hours of preparation, arranging the cutting, splicing and designing of tiny fragments of pre-recorded piano sound for the two tape recorder parts. In 1968 I gave two public performances and made an ABC recording of Dimensions. The experience made me curious to see if this rather dry series of notes would do anything else, and I resolved to write a work on the same row, exploiting instead its melodic, and often romantic, potential. Thus I chose a series of variations for violin and piano, giving each variation a title. The theme is a harmonic arrangement of the row, followed by the movements, Invention, Aria, Passacaglia, Recitative and Fugetta. Variations on a Theme of Sitsky was commissioned by the Beecroft Music Club, and was completed in 1970." -- Donald Hollier