Variations / Sarah Beth Briggs

$9.99
Label
Avie Records
Release Date
March 24, 2023
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    • PERFORMER
      Sarah Beth Briggs
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      March 24, 2023
    • UPC
      822252256925
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      AV2569
    • LABEL
      Avie Records
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Theme

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    2. Variation 1

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    3. Variation 2

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    4. Variation 3

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    5. Variation 4

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    6. Variation 5

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    7. Variation 6

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    8. Variation 7

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    9. Variation 8: Adagio

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    10. Variation 9: Allegro - Tempo primo

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    11. Theme

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    12. Variation 1

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    13. Variation 2

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    14. Variation 3

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    15. Variation 4

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    16. Variation 5: Con espressione

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    17. Variation 6: Allegro alla marcia

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    18. Variation 7: (Allegro) - Adagio - Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    19. Theme: Adagio

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    20. Variation 1

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    21. Variation 2: Allegro ma non troppo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    22. Variation 3: Allegretto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    23. Variation 4: Tempo di Menuetto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    24. Variation 5: Marcia: Allegretto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    25. Variation 6: Allegretto - Coda: Adagio molto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    26. Theme: Andante sostenuto

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    27. Variation 1

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    28. Variation 2: Un poco più animato

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    29. Variation 3: Più animato

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    30. Variation 4

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    31. Variation 5: Agitato

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    32. Variation 6: Tempo I

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    33. Variation 7

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    34. Variation 8: Allegro vivace

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    35. Variation 9

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    36. Variation 10: Moderato

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    37. Variation 11

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    38. Variation 12: Tempo di Tema

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    39. Variation 13

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    40. Variation 14: Adagio

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    41. Variation 15: Poco a poco più agitato

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    42. Variation 16: Allegro vivace

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    43. Variation 17: (Allegro vivace) - Presto

      Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    44. Theme: Ziemlich langsam

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    45. Variation 1

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    46. Variation 2: Poco più moto

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    47. Variation 3: Tempo di tema

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    48. Variation 4: Poco più moto

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    49. Variation 5: Allegro capriccioso

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    50. Variation 6: Allegro

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    51. Variation 7: Andante

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    52. Variation 8: Andante (non troppo lento)

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    53. Variation 9: Schnell

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    54. Variation 10: Poco adagio

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    55. Variation 11: Un poco più animato

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    56. Variation 12: Allegretto, poco scherzando

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    57. Variation 13: Non troppo presto

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    58. Variation 14: Andante

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    59. Variation 15: Poco adagio

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs

    60. Variation 16: (Adagio)

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Sarah Beth Briggs


Beethoven wrote in his diary that he wanted “to show the British what a treasure they have in God Save the King”, a reference to his set of variations on the national anthem, composed in 1803. Sarah Beth Briggs recorded the virtuoso set precisely one month before the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the recording heralds the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023. The lesser-known Variations on an Original Theme in F major (1802) represent Beethoven the revolutionary. Uniquely, each variation was written in a different key which would have jarred the ears of the composer’s contemporaries. Sarah Beth Briggs’ collection of Variations underlines a lineage of the genre through the classical and Romantic eras. Opening the program is 9 Variations on a Minuet by Duport by Mozart, whom Beethoven greatly admired. The work takes a theme by cellist Jean-Pierre Duport, chamber music director of the court of the Prussian King, Friedrich Wilhelm II, from whom the composer hoped to gain favor. Mendelssohn’s Variations Serieuses was written as a tribute to Beethoven, and was included in an album of works that raised funds for the now famous bronze statue of Beethoven in Bonn. Mendelssohn’s near contemporary Brahms paid tribute to his troubled friend Robert Schumann, using a melody from Bunte Blätter (“Colorful Leaves”) in his poignant Variations on a Theme by Schumann.

REVIEWS:

Briggs’ execution is fluidly graceful and well-modulated. She approaches this repertoire with a studied care that betrays a love for the period and composers.

-- Wild Mercury Rhythm

All nine of Mozart’s Variations on a Theme by Jean-Pierre Duport, K 573 are quite delicate, sounding here almost as if they were played on a toy piano. Only the finale includes authoritative sounds. Beethoven’s 7 Variations on `God Save the King’ is sturdier; I especially enjoy the lively, witty, chordal IV. Also included is Beethoven’s 6 Variations on an Original Theme. In Variations Serieuses, Mendelssohn managed to write 17 imaginative ones. That number only slightly outdoes Brahms, who came up with 16 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann. Lovely music, elegant playing.

-- American Record Guide