Theme and Variations

For open instrumentation

In Theme and Variations, the musical discourse emerges as a consequence of the performative process. Someone improvises a short musical statement which is then continuously imitated by the different performers. These imitations, spontaneous in nature, are shaped by each participant’s individual perception of the initial statement and use of their instrument. As this process is repeated, the idea continues to be transformed, always changing, always becoming.

Three main objectives may be identified in the performance of this score: the exploration of the potential to generate new material from the same idea, the exploration of instruments in new and unexpected ways, and an examination of the creative process itself.