Modern dances - historical pattern

The Variation suite of the composer and flautist Wolfram Wagner, born in Vienna in 1962, contains a great stylistic diversity that characterizes his works in general. Already during his time as a student in London, a clear structure and reference to clear formal patterns developed as characteristics of his compositions, which range from solo pieces to choral and stage works. The first movement, Prelude, is reminiscent of Bach's suite movements, in particular the Allemande from the Partita A minor BWC 1013 for solo flute. It begins with a g, which recurs regularly at the beginning of the bars and from which the harmonic developments then emanate. The composer points out in the preface that the challenge for every player is to "make audible the immanent polyphony that permeates all the movements and also to dissolve the strictness of the form into the emotionality and virtuosity of the performance".

Polyphonic structures are also evident in the following Viennese Waltz, which only incorporates a free, preluding cadenza-like passage in the final section. The Tango also refers to the opening prelude, as does the Calypso, which is similar to it and becomes very virtuosic through chromatic triplet movements. In the Slow Waltz, contemporary playing techniques such as harmonics are used for the first time. By far the longest piece is the variation five, Blues, Rock and Roll (Passacaglia), which is a successful mixture of modern rhythmic drive and neoclassical echoes with polyphony and ornamentation with bouncing trills.

The composer gives specific instructions for the performance: either all movements or the first four in the original order or only the Passacaglia. This allows the performers greater flexibility in their choice. The Variation suite by Wolfram Wagner is a successful addition to the solo repertoire and can already be played by advanced students.

Wolfram Wagner, Variation Suite for flute solo, D 35 023, € 20.95, Doblinger Vienna 2014