Variations on a Theme of Chopin (Rachmaninoff)

Variations on a Theme of Chopin (Russian: Вариации на тему Ф. Шопена, Variatsii na temu F. Shopena), Op. 22, is a group of 22 variations on Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor (Op. 28, No. 20), composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1902–03. In the first edition, it is noted that 3 of the variations and the final Presto section can be omitted if the performer wishes.

The form of the piece is:

Theme: Largo, 9 bars

Variation	Tempo marking	Key	Description	Score
I	Moderato (66 bpm)	C minor	8 bars
II	Allegro (132 bpm)	C minor	8 bars
III	132 bpm	C minor	8 bars
IV	132 bpm	C minor	24 bars of 3 4
V	Meno mosso (92 bpm)	C minor	8 bars
VI	Meno mosso (84 bpm)	C minor	8 bars 12 bars of 6 4
VII	Allegro (120 bpm)	C minor	8 bars *This variation may be omitted
VIII	120 bpm	C minor	8 bars
IX	120 bpm	C minor	8 bars
X	Più vivo (144 bpm)	C minor	14 bars *This variation may be omitted
XI	Lento (44 bpm)	E♭ major	14 bars of 12 8
XII	Moderato (60 bpm)	C minor	32 bars *This variation may be omitted
XIII	Largo (52 bpm)	C minor	16 bars
XIV	Moderato (72 bpm)	C minor	24 bars of 4 4 then one bar of 2 4
XV	Allegro scherzando (132 bpm)	F minor	45 bars of 12 8 in F minor
XVI	Lento (54 bpm)	F minor	14 bars in F minor
XVII	Grave (46 bpm)	B♭ minor	18 bars of 3 4 in B♭ minor
XVIII	Più mosso	B♭ minor	12 bars in B♭ minor
XIX	Allegro vivace	A major	35 bars in A major
XX	Presto (92 bpm)	C♯ minor	108 bars of 3 4 in A major and C♯ minor
XXI	Andante (60 bpm) - Più vivo (100 bpm)	D♭ major C major	24 bars in D♭ major followed by 29 bars of 3 4 in C major marked Più vivo (100 bpm)
XXII	Maestoso (100 bpm)	C major	82 bars of 3 4 in C major. Then 12 bars marked Meno mosso. Finally, 19 bars marked Presto (These final 19 bars may be omitted)

• List of variations on a theme by another composer

Notes

Sources

• Anderson, Keith (1999). Rachmaninov: Variations on a Theme of Chopin/Preludes (CD). Naxos Records. 8.554426.
• Kim, Ji Hyun (2018). A Study of Rachmaninoff's Variations on a theme by Chopin, Op. 22 (PDF) (D.M.). Indiana University.
• Matthew-Walker, Robert (1993). Rachmaninov: The Complete Solo Piano Music (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDS44041/8.
• Norris, Geoffrey. "Rachmaninoff's Variations". The Bells. 2: 28–36.
• Rachmanov, Dimitry (2007). "Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42" (PDF). Pianist.

• Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• (in Russian) Piano.ru - Sheet music download
• (in Russian) Chubrik.ru - Audio download
• Rachmaninoff Variations on a theme by Chopin op.22. Performed by Marianna Prjevalskaya

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