The Variations on a Polish Theme, Op. 10, by Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) are a youthful extravagance. Szymanowski was also much influenced by Scriabin, whose own early music was similarly indebted to Chopin. He launches these B-minor Variations with a sad little introduction, Scriabin evident in its restless chromaticism and Chopin in the five-against-four filigree. The Theme itself – prefigured in the introduction – begins with a modal statement of the main melodic material in soft octaves, although the descending chromatic slither that quickly follows will be equally important. Szymanowski was in his late teens when he arrived in Warsaw in 1901 and began composition lessons with Zygmunt Noskowski, to whom he dedicated these Variations. The work seems to have been completed by 1904, and received its premiere in 1906.
0:00 - Andante doloroso rubato
0:50 - Tema. Andantino semplice
3:00 - Var. I Meno mosso
4:20 - Var. II Agitato
5:03 - Var. III Lento mesto, ma poco agitato
6:13 - Var. IV Allegro molto agitato
6:55 - Var. V Andantino
8:04 - Var. VI Andante dolcissimo
11:14 - Var. VII Più mosso
12:20 - Var. VIII Marcia funebre
15:54 - Var. IX Più mosso (Allegro)
16:53 - Var. X Finale. Allegro vivo
Performer: Krystian Zimerman, 2022 Deutsche Grammophon