Aylesford Pieces No. 16 — Air with Variations

About this work

The Air from the Aylesford Pieces sets out a melody with inner voices, followed by two variations. In the Allegretto theme, held notes alternate with quick groups. The first variation introduces a more continuous flow of quavers; the second comes closer to the theme’s outline, with repeated notes and ties.

The challenge is more than finger speed. One hand must bring out the melody while keeping an accompanying voice quieter. In the theme, play and sing the upper notes on their own before restoring the intervals beneath them.

Keep a common pulse as you move into the variations. Practise the groups of five or six notes marked with a numeral within their written duration. Before joining the sections, trace the repeat bars and the two alternative endings in the second variation on page two.

Score and files

2-page piano score, typeset by Bas Wassink for Mutopia (165). Declared source: Edition Schott 1930. Declared public domain; PDF and MIDI available.
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