Imaginary

Film and Stage

On the shadow side:

• The Bridge on the River Kwai, about an army colonel who lost sight of the prize.

Music: Composers, artists, and major works

Frederic Rzewski’s magnum opus for solo piano, “The People United Will Never Be Defeated,” could easily be placed under “Unity” or “Strength,” because its pervasive attitude, expressed, through the solo voice, conveys the idea of strength through unity. I have chosen this work to represent the virtue of remaining vigilant and focused on a cherished goal or ideal. The work, spanning approximately one hour in performance, is a series of variations on a simple, hummable theme. Because that theme remains to prominent and so easily identifiable throughout the work, this composition best represents the virtue of keeping eyes on the prize. Here are performances by Rzewski and Takahashi.

In any work of theme and variations, the idée fixe is the core.

• Fauré, Theme and Variations, Op. 73
• Beach, Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet, Op. 80 (1916)
• Brahms, 10 Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann for Piano Four Hands, Op. 23 (1861)
• Brahms, 16 Variations on a Theme by Schumann, Op. 9 (1854)
• Brahms, 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 (1863)
• Britten, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, for string orchestra, Op. 10 (1937)
• Dukas, Variations, Interlude and Finale on a theme by Rameau (1902)
• Moyse, Introduction, Theme and Variations, for flute and piano (1980)
• Nielsen, Prelude, Theme, And Variations, Op. 48 (1923)
• Rózsa, Theme and Variations
• Schubert, Introduction and Variations on Trockne Blumen, Op. posth. 160, D 802
• Shostakovich, Theme and Variations in B-flat Major, Op. 3 (1922)
• Stanford, Concert Variations Upon an English Theme "Down Among the Dead Men" for piano and orchestra in C Minor, Op. 71
• Tchaikovsky, Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello & Orchestra, Op. 33 (1877) (arr. for flugelhorn)
• Walton, Variations on a Theme by Hindemith (1963)
• Paray, Theme et Variations, for piano
• Antoine Edouard Pratté, Theme and Variations on a Swedish Folk Tune

In three compositions, Max Reger added a twist, with a fugue (wandering).

• Variations and Fugue on a theme by Bach for Piano, Op. 81 (1904) (theme taken from 4th mvt. aria (duet) of Cantata Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128)
• Variations and Fugue On a Theme by Johann Adam Hiller, in E Major, Op. 100 (1907)
• Variations and Fugue on a theme by Telemann for Piano, Op. 134 (1914)

Other compositions:

• Hanson, Piano Concerto in G Major, Op. 36 (1948): a strong idée fixe (fixed idea) is prominent in this work.
• Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 9 in E-flat Major, Op. 117 (1964): the second violin establishes the basic idea, which remains prominent throughout each movement.

Variations on a theme is a characteristic feature of jazz, on prominent display in these albums:

• Clare Hammond, “Variations”
• Johnathan Blake, “Trion”

Music: songs and other short pieces

• Sung-bong Choi on Korea’s Got Talent, and in the competition final
• Rising Appalachia, Resilient

Poetry

And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.

[from Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”]