Sergei Lyapunov Variations and Fugue on a Russian Theme Op. 49 ( GSARCI VIDEO REVIVAL)

The Variations stands at the beginning of Lyapunovs final creative period, which is marked by less spectacular writing and wanton brilliance, increasingly compact harmonies and even greater technical difficulties. A folk theme in the unusual 5, 4 metre is soberly stated in the Dsharp Aeolian mode. Despite their complexity, the variations that follow never give in to spectacular runs and ornaments in the Lisztian sense and are limited to the classical development of the melody, or of fragments such as the descending scale taken from the themes opening bar. Particularly noteworthy are the second variation with its minuscule homophonic chord jumps; the third for its uninterrupted motion of the inner voice; the imitations in the fourth variation; and a group of variations modulating poetically into the relative key of Fsharp major. The final fugue is what it should be: a demonstration of compositional craftsmanship every bit as impressive as the fugue that concludes Brahms Handel Variations, to which it seems