Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann

From Wind Repertory Project
Robert Jager

Robert Jager


General Info

Year: 1969
Duration: c. 10:10
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alfred Publishing Co.
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00   |   Score Only - $15.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Gong
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

In Parts:

  • Percussion, Var. 2, 9 meas. after reh. A: Add 2/4 meter signature


Program Notes

The Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann was written on commission for the North Hills High School Band in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was premiered by this excellent ensemble and their fine director, Warren Mercer, at the 1969 Eastern Region Music Educators National Conference in meeting in Washington, D.C.

The theme is The Happy Farmer, and the variations evolve one from the other throughout the work using rhythmic, melodic and intervallic relationships for the basis of their variance. The basic structure is as follows:

Theme, The Happy Farmer (also known as the “Red Wing Polka.”)
Variation I, Theme is juxtaposed throughout “solo” voices in a Haydn-esque fashion
Variation II, Flutes outline theme in scherzo-like style
Variation III, Free variation on rhythmic values
Variation IV, Melodic and intervallic variation
Variation V, Distortion of melodic line in rhapsodic variation
Variation VI, Rhythmic variation of theme

- Program note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • SimfoVents Palma (Spain) (Francisco Valero-Terribas, conductor) - 21 April 2023
  • Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (R. Mark Rogers, conductor) - 29 January 2023
  • Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) Wind Ensemble (Joe Miller, conductor) - 27 November 2022
  • Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Tiffany Engle, conductor) - 13 April 2022
  • University of Houston (Tx.) Wind Ensemble (David Bertman) - 11 April 2021
  • University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Wind Ensemble (Robert Taylor, conductor) – 13 February 2020
  • University of Texas at Tyler Wind Ensemble (Jeffrey Emge, conductor) - 5 December 2019
  • California Polytechnic State University Pomona Symphonic Winds (Ricky Badua, conductor) – 9 October 2019
  • Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Tim Smith conductor) – 5 May 2019
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, Wind Ensemble (Paul Bambach, conductor) – 29 November 2018
  • Dr. Lawrence R. Sutherland Wind Festival Orchestra (Fresno, Calif.) (David Becker, conductor) -18 March 2018 (2018 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Symphonic Band (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) – 1 March 2018
  • Whitman College (Walla Walla, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Gary Gemberling, conductor) – 21 April 2017
  • Santa Barbara City College Concert Band (Eric C. Heidner, conductor) - 2 December 2012
  • Farragut High School (Knoxville, Tenn.) Symphonic Band (Ron Rogers, conductor) – 24 February 2010 (CBDNA 2010 Southern Division Conference, Oxford, Miss.)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Jager, R.; Schumann, R. (1969). Variations on a theme of Robert Schumann : (The happy farmer) [score]. Belwin : New York.
  • Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. 2002. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 4. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 725-732.
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