Variations on a Theme is a classical music show based on a different theme each week that tries to explore genres and pieces that are a little bit off the mainstream and goes beyond the Beethoven symphonies and the Brandenburg Concertos
Sundays 11 - 12 pm with Mark Smith, replayed on Thurday nights at 10pm.
Download this weeks show.
Listen to last weeks show:
Playlist for 16th August - The Other Europe
| Antonin Dvorak | Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 #2 in E minor - Allegretto Scherzando |
| Bela Barok | Concerto for Orchestra - 2nd Movement |
| Pavel Haas | String Quartet No.3 - I |
| Leos Janacek | Glagolithic mass |
| Bedrich Smetana | Dance from the Bartered Bride |
| Karol Szymanowski | Litany to the Virgin mary |
| Franz Liszt | Annee de Pelerinage - The Bells of Geneva |
| Frederic Chopin | 10 Op.10 No.6 in eb - Chopin |
| Leopold Godowsky | 11 Op.10 No.6 in eb - Godowsky (left hand) |
Playlist for 9th August - Violin Sonatas and Partitas
| H. Biber | Mystery Sonatas The Resurrection: 2. 'Surrexit Christus hodie' |
| J.S Bach | Partita No 3 - Preluse |
| Eugene Ysaye | Sonata No.2 in A minor (for Jacques Thibaud) |
| Richard Schumann | Sonata No 2 in D minor, op. 121 |
| Frederick Delius | Sonata no 3 |
| Manuel de Falla | Suite populaire espagnole (arr. Kochanski) |
| Eugene Ysaye | Sonata No.6 in E major (for Manuel Quiroga) |
| J.S Bach | Partita No.2 (BWV 1004) - Chaconne |
Playlist for 2nd August - America
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Aaron Copland | Lincoln Portrait |
| Charles Ives | 3 places in New England |
| Leonard Bernstein | Chichester Psalms |
| Philip Glass | Facades |
| Steve Reich | Drumming, Pt. 4 |
| John Adams | Tromba Lontana |
| John Harbison | North & South: 6 Poems of Elizabeth Bishop (1999) - Book 1 1. Ballad for Billie 1 |
| Samuel Barber | Knoxville: Summer of 1915 |
Playlist for 26th July -Here Comes the Sun-King
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Giovanni Rovetta | Dixit Dominus |
| Charles Mouton | Le belle homicide |
| Jean Baptiste Lully | Trios pour Le Coucher du Roi |
| Marin Marais | Les Voix Humaines |
| Sainte-Colombe ( Sieur de), Jean | Les Pleurs |
| Antoine Forqueray | La Leclair |
| Francois Couperin | Le Dodo |
| Jean Phillipe Rameau | L'Enharmonique |
| Marc Antoine Charpentier | Te Deum |
| Marais | Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont-de-Paris |
Playlist for 19th July -Satie et Les Six
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Erik Satie | Parade (Ballet Suite) |
| Georges Auric | Prelude (from Album des Six) |
| Louis Durey | Romances Sans Parole (from Album des Six) |
| Poulenc | Clarinet Sonata (2nd Movement) |
| Germaine Tailleferre | Pastoral (from Album des Six) |
| Darius Milhaud | Scaramouche - Sabine Meyer Clarinet |
| Honegger | Rugby (Symphonic Movement |
| Satie, Orch Poulenc | Deux Prelude and a Gnosienne |
Playlist for 5th July -The Rest is Noise - The Golden Age
| Composer | Title |
| Richard Strauss | Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome Op.54 |
| Gustav Mahler | Symphony no 6 - Scherzo |
| Richard Strauss | Aria from the opera Elektra |
| Richard Strauss | Introduction to Der Rosenkavalier |
| Gustav Mahler | Symphony no 7 - Scherzo |
| Gustav Mahler | Symphony 10 - Purgatorio |
| Richard Strauss | Four Last Songs - September |
Playlist for 28th June - Composed for Film
| Composer | Title |
| Vaughan Williams | Dawn Patrol from Coastal Command |
| Bernard Hermann | Hangover Square |
| Michael Nyman | Draughtsmans Contract - Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds |
| Leonard Bernstein | Pieces from On the Town |
| Prokofiev | Queen of Spades |
| Nino Rota | The Legend of the Glass Mountain |
| Bernard Hermann | Psycho - Suite for String Orchestra |
| Michael Nyman | The Piano -The Heart Asks Pleasure First |
Playlist for 21st June - Winter
| Composer | Title |
| Schubert | Winterreise - Gute Nacht |
| Debussy | Childrens Corner - The snow is dancing |
| Jean Sibelius | Snofrid |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams | Music for Scott of the Antarctic - Ice Floes, Blizzard, Snow Plain |
| Gustav Mahler | Winterlied |
| Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky Seasons Jan and Dec |
| Claude Debussy | Préludes, Book 1 - Des pas sur la neige |
| Schubert | Winterreise - Der Leiermann |
Playlist for 14th June - Haydn Vocal and Choral Music
| Composition | Title |
| Oratorio - The creation | The First Day : Introduction: The Representation Of Chaos and the first chorus |
| Scottish Folk Song Arrangements | Love Will Find Out The Way |
| Marian Antiphon | Salve Regina in E Major |
| Cantata - Scena di berenice | Bernice Che Fai |
| Missa In Angustis | Benedictus |
| Schopfungfsmesse (Mass of Creation) | Gloria |
| Oratorio - TheSeasons | Extracts from Autumn |
| Harmoniemesse | Kyrie |
Playlist for 7th June - Haydn Chamber and Instrumental Music
| Genre | Title |
| String Quartet | String Quartet Op. 20 No.2 in C major H.III.32 - Moderato |
| Piano Sonata | Sonate no. 20 en do mineur: 1. |
| String Quartet | String Quartet in E flat major, Op.33 No.2 - 4. Presto (finale) - Joke |
| Piano Trio | Trio in E minor, H.12 - II Andante |
| Piano Sonata | Sonata 59 in Eb (Hob.XVI:49) - 2. Adagio E Cantabile |
| Piano Trio | Trio in F sharp minor, H.26 - I Allegro |
| String Quartet | String Quartet Op.76 No.2 "Les Quintes" - 1. Allegro |
| Piano Trio | Trio in E major, H.28 - II Allegretto |
Playlist for 31st May - Orchestral Haydn
| Artist | Title |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony no. 6 "Le Matin" D-Dur - 1st Movement |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony no. 8 "Le Soir" G - Dur - IV. Le Tempesta. Presto |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Cello Concerto No 1 in C Major - 2nd movement |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Track Title : Piano Concerto in D major, Hob.XVIII:11 - 3. Rondo all'Ungarese |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony No.82 in C major 'The Bear' - 4. Finale: Vivace |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony No. 92 - I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso (oxford) |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Sinfonia concertante in B flat major, No.105: 2. Andante |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony 94 - Surprise, 2nd Movement |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony Nr. 104 in D, 'London': I. Adagio - Allegro |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Trumpet Concerto in E flat Hob. VII e:I: Finale. Allegro |
Playlist for 24th May - Made in NZ - Music from New Zealand - Choral, Vocal, Chamber and Instrumental
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Garetth Farr | Kembang Suling |
| John Psathas | Jettatura |
| Victoria Kelly | Landscape Prelude |
| David Hamilton | A Child Comes Forth |
| Alfred Hill | String Quartet No. 8 in A major: I. Allegro deciso - Andante |
| Ross Harris | Wild Daisies |
| Douglas Lilburn | Brass Quartet |
Playlist for 1th May - Made in NZ - Orchestral Music from New Zealand
| Composer | Title |
| Jenny McLeod | Little Symphony: 1st Movement |
| Douglas Lilburn | Aotearoa Overture |
| David Farquhar | A Short Suite: A ring round the moon: Tango,Polka, Waltz |
| Gareth Farr | Waipoua |
| John Psathas | Luminous |
| John Psathas | 3 Psalms (Piano Concerto - 3rd Movement) |
| Edwin Carrr | The Snow Maiden - Act 2 |
Playlist for Sunday 10th May - Mother
| Composer | Title |
| Dvorak | Songs My Mother Taught me |
| Alexander Gretchaninov | Passion Week:Weep for me not, O Mother |
| Monteverdi | Pianto Della Madonna |
| Ravel | Mother Goose |
| Pergolesi | Stabat Mater : Sancta mater |
| Vivaldi | Stabat Mater |
| Poulenc | Stabat Mater |
| Grieg | Ave Maris Stella |
| Britten | Hymn to the virgin |
| Golijov | Ayre II. Una Madre Comió Asado (A Mother Roasted Her Child) |
| Mahler | Kindertotenlieder |
| Richard Strauss | Muttertändelei, Op 43 No.2 (Gottfried August Bürger) |
| Charles Ives | Songs My Mother Taught me |
Playlist for Sunday 3rd May - Royalty
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Jean Sibelius | King Kristian 2nd Movement :Elegy |
| Respighi | Belkis, Queen Of Sheba: Suite for Orch from the Complete Ballet- 4. Orgiastic Dance |
| Ludwig van Beethoven: | Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat, Op. 73 'Emperor': 2. Adagio un poco mosso |
| Bartok | The Wooden Prince, Sz. 60 (Op.13) - II. 1st Dance: Dance of the Princess in the Forest |
| Arnold Bax | Tintagel |
| Beethoven | Archduke Trio - Allegro moderato |
| Mozart | Mass in C Major, K. 317 "Coronation" - Missa solemnis op. 123 (disc 1) K. 317 - Benedictus |
| Franz Josephn Haydn | Symphony No.85 'La Reine' in B flat major - I. Adagio - Vivace |
Playlist for 26th April - Music and Literature
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Beethoven | Kreutzer Sonata |
| Leos Janacek | Kreutzer Sonata |
| Charles Ives | Concord Sonata: Alcotts |
| Georges Bizet | Arlisienne Orchestral Suite No 1:!st Movement |
| Debussy | Préludes, Book 2 - Hommage à S. Pickwick Esq. |
| Debussy | Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune |
| Richard Strauss | Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome Op.54 |
| William Walton | Henry V . 1st Movement Prologue |
Playlist for 19th April - Mother Russia
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Mussorgsky: orch Shostakovich | Songs and Dances of Death I: Lullaby |
| Rachmaninov | Vocalise |
| Prokofiev | Lieutenant Kije Suite |
| Rachmaninov | Elegiac Trio No 2 |
| Peter Tchaikovsky | Symphony No 6: Pathetique: Adagio Lamentoso |
| Stravinsky | Symphony of Psalms: Psalm I50 |
| D. Shostakovich | Suite for Variety Orchestra. - Waltz No.2 |
| D. Shostakovich | Five Satires Op. 109 V: Kreutzer sonata |
Playlist for 12th April - Music for Easter
| Composer | Title |
| Marcorelli | Lamentations of Jeremiah for Tenebrae: Aleph |
| Allegri | Misere Mei |
| Antonio Lotti | Crucifixus |
| Arvo Part | Passio: |
| Herbert Howells | Take him, Earth, For Cherishing |
| Rachmaninov | Vespers: Risen from the dead, Praise to the Mother of God |
| Szymanowski | Stabat Mater |
| Bach | St Matthews Passion |
Playlist for 5th April - Transcriptions and Arrangements
| Arranger/Composer | Title |
| Franck Krawczyk/Chopin | Lacrimosa Étude opus 10 n°6) |
| Percy Grainger/Richard Strauss | Ramble on the Last Love Duet in Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss |
| Louis Brassin/Richard Wagner | Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure |
| Leopold Stokowski/Henry Purcell | Henry Purcell Suite |
| Ferrucio Busoni/J. S Bach | Toccatta and Fugue in C, BWV 564 |
| Tchaikovsky/Feingberg | Scherzo from Symphony no. 6 |
| Mussorgsky/Rimsky Korsakov | Introduction to Khovanshchina |
| Koonce/J S Bach | Prelude from BWV 998 |
| Prokofiev/Prokofiev | Gavotte and Orientale from Cinderalla |
| Mussorgsky/Ravel | Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade and Gnomus |
Playlist for 22nd March - Chopin (Mostly)
| Composer | Title |
| Chopin | Polannaise in A Flat Major Op 53 |
| Chopin | Waltz in A Flat Major Op 69. No1 "Farewell" |
| Chopin | Waltz In A Minor Op34 No2 |
| Chopin | Mazurka in D Major Op 33 No.2 |
| Chopin | Bacarolle in F Sharp Major Op. 60 |
| Chopin | Etude no.1 "Waterfall" |
| Chopin | Etude no 5 "Black Key" |
| Chopin | Prelude 4 in E Minor |
| Chopin | Prelude 15 in E Minor |
| Chopin | Prelude 17 in A Flat |
| Chopin | Nocturne no 11 op 37 in Gminor |
| Chopin | Ballade No 3 Op 47 in A Flat |
| Godowsky | Minute Waltz Transcription |
Playlist for 15th March - Baroque Boogie
| Composer | Title |
| J.S. Bach | Partita No3 in E major - 2nd Movement - Loure |
| J.S. Bach | Partita No3 in E major - 3nd Movement - Gavotte en Rondeau |
| J.S. Bach | Partita No3 in E major - 4th Movement - Minuet |
| Orchestra of Louis Xlll | Music for the child Dauphin - Pavane and Gaillard |
| J.S. Bach | Partita No2 in E major - Chaconne |
| John Adams | Violin Concerto - 2nd Movement - Chaconne |
| J. S. Bach | French Suite No5, Allemande and Courante |
| J. S. Bach | Cello Suite No1 - Allemande |
| G. Telemann | Passepied from Tafelmusik, Suite in E-minor |
| Claude Debussy | Passepied from the Suite Bergamesque |
| J S Bach | Polannaise in F |
Playlist for 8th March - Nordic Composers
| Composer | Title |
| Jean Sibelius (Finnish) | Luonottar |
| Arvo Part (Estonian) | Tabula Rosa: Ludus |
| Rautavaraa (Finnish) | Manhattan Trilogy: Daydreams |
| Sigurd Von Koch (Swedish) | Swedish Songs: Springs Night Rain |
| Wilhelm Stenhammar (swedish) | Serenade: 1st Movement |
| Carl Nielsen (Danish) | Little Suite |
| Edvard Grieg (Norwegian) | Lyric Pieces Op 65:Wedding day at Troldahaugen |
| Arvo Part (Estonian) | Summa |
| Edvard Grieg (Norwegian) | Holberg Suite:Gavotte |
Playlist for 1st March
| Composer | Title |
| Franz Joseph Haydn | Symphony no 83. La Poule- The chicken |
| William Walton | Spitfire Prelude and Fugue |
| Rameau | The Hen |
| Tchaikovsky | Swan Lake: Final Scene |
| Prokofiev | Peter and the Wolf |
| Stravinsky | The Firebird- The Firebirds Entreaty |
| Grieg | Lyric Suite Op 43, Butterfly and Little Bird |
| Gustav Holst | Mercury - the Winged Messenger |
| Peter Warlock | The Curlew |
| Sibelius | The Swan of Tuonela |
Playlist for 22nd Feb
| Composer | Title |
| Rimsky Korasakov | Scheherezade - Sea and Sinbad's Ship |
| Rachmaninov | Prelude in c Sharp minor |
| Ravel - Forlane | Tombeau de Couperin: Andre Previn |
| Rameau | Grand Motet: In Convertendo:Laudate Nomen Dei |
| Rossini | Stabat Mater: Eja Mater |
| Rachmaninov | Vespers: Prayer of St Simeon |
| Respighi | Pines of Rome |
| Rautavaara | Cantus Arcticus: The Marsh |
Playlist for 15th Feb
| Composer | Title |
| Ravel | Daphnis and Chloe After the rescue from pirates |
| Franz Schubert :Matthias Goerne | Winterreise: Der Lindenbaum |
| Mahler: Fischer Deskau and Schwarzkopf | Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen" – Where the Fair Trumpets Sound |
| Liszt: Murray Perahia | Three Petrach Sonnets |
| Debussy: | La Mer: Jeu de Vagues - "Play of the waves" |
| Henri Duparc: Janet Baker | La Vie Anterieure |
| Sibelius | Pohjolas Daughter |
| Berlioz: Regine Crespin | Absence |
| Ravel: Sheherezade | L'Indifferent |