Eight Variations on Laat ons juichen

A song already full of movement

The Allegretto theme mixes dotted rhythms, ornaments and short runs before the first variation begins. Its light two-beat metre needs a clear pulse beneath that decoration. The eight variations grow from a Dutch song by Christian Ernst Graaf, identified in Kurt von Fischer’s foreword. At the keyboard, the useful starting point is the tune’s shape: notice where it rises, where it answers itself and where the bass changes its direction.

Keep the tune inside the decoration

Try singing a short phrase, then playing its bass alone. When the hands return together, let the ornaments lead towards the important melody notes rather than becoming separate events. Compare the same phrase across two variations. Aim for a recognisable musical thought even when the surface becomes busier.

Music in this edition

1. Eight Variations on Laat ons juichen