Variations and Rhapsodies: Cork PianoFest Recital Series

Music by Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Van Heusen, Rosolino, Churchill, Strayhorn

Tomás O’Hea, Jonathan Murray and Declan Murphy

The form of ‘theme and variations’ has held a particular fascination for composers for piano and keyboard from as far back as the early sixteenth century. From William Byrd to JS Bach’s epic Goldberg Variations, from Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert to Chopin, Brahms and Rachmaninov, the form has been a vehicle as much for showcasing pianistic prowess and improvisational ability as well as compositional technique. Its deep associations with improvisation meant that it instantly lent itself to jazz, where the ‘theme and variations’ model formed the basis of bebop and still remains the most common model for jazz improvisation to this day. This programme will showcase both classical and jazz forms, with some beautiful jazz standards bookended by music from two of the nineteenth century’s greatest keyboard improvisers: Beethoven and Liszt.