Variations on a Nursery Tune (Dohnányi)

The Variations on a Nursery Tune for piano and orchestra, Op. 25, were written by Ernst von Dohnányi in 1914. It is subtitled "For the enjoyment of friends of humor, to the annoyance of others" on the manuscript, though he omitted this inscription on the concert program and on the published edition, fearing that it might sound somewhat provocative. The work was premiered in Berlin on 17 February 1914.

Structure

The Variations on a Nursery Tune consist of an introduction and theme, eleven variations and a coda.

Introduction. Maestoso
Theme. Allegro
Variation I. Poco più mosso
Variation II. Risoluto
Variation III. L'istesso tempo
Variation IV. Molto meno mosso
Variation V. Più mosso
Variation VI. Ancora più mosso
Variation VII. Walzer
Variation VIII. Alla marcia
Variation IX. Presto
Variation X. Passacaglia
Variation XI. Choral
Finale fugato

After a dramatic introduction, the theme – Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star – is introduced, followed by eleven variations on it, including a waltz and a more serious passacaglia.
Dohnányi alludes to many different works, or composers' distinctive compositional styles, in the piece. For instance, variation 8 suggests the march from the second movement of Tchaikovsky's "Little Russian" Symphony. Debussy is alluded to, with the ethereal harmonies of the 11th variation. Dohnányi pokes fun at nearly every composer his audience of 1914 would have been familiar with.

Reception

The work made Dohnányi famous, particularly in England, where the audience "seemed to have a real sense of humor", and North America.