Composer

:

Robin Holloway

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Variations

Compose Date

:

1987

Average_duration

:

4:08

'Variations on Sumer is icumen in: Variation 2' is a composition by Robin Holloway, a British composer born in 1943. The piece was composed in 1971 and premiered in the same year. It is part of a larger work, 'Variations on Sumer is icumen in', which is a set of variations on the medieval English round 'Sumer is icumen in'. The second variation of the piece is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex harmonies. The melody of the original round is still present, but it is obscured by the intricate counterpoint and chromaticism of the variation. The texture of the piece is thick and dense, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other. The tempo is moderate, with a steady pulse that drives the piece forward. The variation is structured in a loose ABA form, with the A sections featuring the dense counterpoint and dissonance, and the B section providing a moment of respite with a simpler, more harmonically stable texture. The B section also features a solo violin line that soars above the rest of the ensemble, providing a moment of contrast and highlighting the virtuosity of the performer. Overall, 'Variations on Sumer is icumen in: Variation 2' is a complex and challenging piece that showcases Holloway's skill as a composer. Its use of dissonance and intricate counterpoint make it a piece that rewards careful listening and analysis, and its incorporation of the medieval round into a contemporary context demonstrates Holloway's interest in exploring the intersection of past and present musical traditions.

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