Year 8 The Classical Era
Mozart meets the Emperor
In this scene from the film Amadeus, Mozart meets the Emperor. Salieri (the court composer, Mozart's rival) has composed a welcome march. Mozart takes Salieri's march and uses it as a theme (a simple melody) which he decorates to create his own variations (decorated or altered versions of the theme).
Mozart's 12 Variations on 'Ah Vous Dirai-je Maman'
1. Theme and Variations Performing
1Singing Theme and Variations (Vocal Score).pdfSinging Theme and Variations: Ah Vous Dirai (Vocal Score)
2Singing Theme and Variations (Piano Score).pdfSinging Theme and Variations: Ah Vous Dirai (Piano Score)
2. Theme and Variations Listening
1Theme and Variations Listening (Complete).mp3Mozart 12 Variations Listening Audio: Theme Variation 1 Variation 4 Variation 5 Variation 6 Variation 8 Variation 9 Variation 12
1Mozart 12 Variations Listening (Student Copy).pdf3. Theme and Variations Composing
Compose a Theme and Variations for piano using the worksheet below. The instructions are summarised here.
1Composing Theme and Variations Ah Vous Dirai.pdfTheme
Notate the theme: 'Ah Vous Dirai-je Maman' (also known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star).
Notate the melody on the treble stave. Notate the accompaniment on the bass stave. Add the chord symbols.
Add another piano underneath the main piano and label it 'Guide Stave'. Copy your theme (melody, accompaniment and chord symbols) to your guide stave.
Variation 1
Vary the melody by adding passing notes. On beats 1 and 3 use a note from the theme. Move mainly by step. When moving by jump, jump to a note from the chord.
Variation 2
Vary the accompaniment by using broken chords (also known as arpeggios). Start with the root (the lowest note) of the chord. Jump to other notes of the chord in repeating patterns.
Variation 3
Vary the rhythm of the melody and accompaniment. Change note lengths and add rests to create detached articulation.
Variation 4
Change the key to a minor key: C minor. Then combine any of the techniques above: change the pitches and rhythms of the melody and accompaniment.
Variations 5, 6, 7 etc.
Compose other variations using one or more of the following techniques:
Imitation between the right hand and left hand.
Adding chromatic notes (sharps and flats) and chromatic scales (using both the white and black notes).
Placing the melody in the left hand and the accompaniment in the right hand.
Using written trills (oscillating between two notes) and other ornaments (such as turns or mordents).
For more suggested piano textures, visit the GCSE Music Theme and Variations Resources homepage