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Influenced by these words
This phrase left a deep impression on me forever.
First, some background: 14 years ago I received my Master´s degree in piano performance from the Rotterdam Conservatory in The Netherlands.
In order to qualify for graduation, I had to undergo a series of steps and tests. One of these was doing an artistic research. Something similar to a thesis, like the one I had already done for my bachelor´s degree a couple of years before, but with a few technical differences.
I chose the topic of theme and variations, a musical form that has always fascinated me. I studied the form deeper than ever before, including some of the most important works of the genre like Bach´s Goldberg variations all the way up to Lutoslawski´s Variations on a Theme by Paganini, and I even composed my own set of variations.
While doing my research, I came across some writings by T.S.Eliot sort of by chance… but that´s another story.
One phrase particularly caught my attention:
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
This phrase struck me since it was very relevant to my research. You see, some of the variations I was studying for the research, like the Goldberg or Beethoven´s op.109 had the peculiarity that their main theme (the music that serves as the generator for all subsequent variations) was repeated at the very end of the work in an identical manner as in its initial form, even after so many variations of it had been developed.
The common points between this fact and T.S.Eliot´s phrase are so evident that they need no more explanation. Music, and all art, are nothing but an expression of truth.
Human truth. Nature´s truth. Nature, as seen through human eyes.
My most popular set of self-composed variations is called “Summertime Variations” (quite appropriate for this time of the year…). They are included in my album America which received so many accolades, including a Latin-Grammy nomination.
In these variations, I use the same technique of revisiting the main theme at the end.
You can listen to these variations by clicking here:
AND, you can purchase the sheet music on this link.
Enjoy, and have a great day.
Claudio.