With his Variations srieuses, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy contributed to the anthology Album-Beethoven which had been initiated by the Viennese publisher Pietro Mechetti and whose proceeds were to be donated for the funding of the Beethoven monument in Bonn. In order to do justice to the high standards of the composer to be honoured, Mendelssohn decided in favour of a cycle of variations which clearly stands out from the superficially virtuoso variation style of that time. The new edition of the Wiener Urtext Edition is based on the autograph engravers copy and the first prints. In addition, the correspondence of Mechettis editor Becher with Mendelssohn could be consulted for clarifying problematic textual instances. The notes on interpretation by Peter Roggenkamp cover various aspects from learning to master the technical demands to practical performance details. The edition is rounded off by a practical and user-friendly notation.

In 1841, at the height of his mastery, Mendelssohn wrote three variation cycles for piano in quick succession. The first of them, the “Variations srieuses” op 54, should probably be regarded as his most important piano work. It formed part of an anthology of works by renowned composers of the time, proceeds from the sales of which were intended for the erection of a Beethoven monument in Bonn. At that time there was something of a production line of so-called “Variations brillantes” for piano; Mendelssohn gave his seventeen Variations in d minor op. 54 the title “Variations srieuses” to distance himself from these,. The beautiful main theme has an earnest, poignant character that is sustained throughout all the transformations.

Piano Solo

Editor: Edwin Hughes