on Sarabande in D minor by Handel
Original Music by Elena Fortin
Handel wrote the Suite in D minor, HWV 437. The Sarabande is the fourth movement in the suite and is written as a theme with two variations. Generations of keyboard players have studied this piece.
It is still listed as a List A (Baroque) selection in the Royal Conservatory Examination List for Level 6. The series is redone every 7 years and I have seen it get brought back for edition after edition. It’s a favourite with teachers and students. I learned it many years ago for my Level 6 exam and it has always been one of my favourite pieces from the Baroque period: it is smooth, lyrical, and more expressive than most of the other choices from that era.
I started out with writing three variations as part of a creative challenge. The following year, I added an extra variation and published the sheet music.
About the arrangement
The original Sarabande was written as a Theme and Variations. The Theme was done in keyboard style: triads in the right hand, a simple bass line in the left hand. Handel’s first variation was contrapuntal in texture: weaving lines of melody made a beautiful horizontal line. Handel’s second variation is chords in the right hand and a left hand melodic bass line.
I used Handel’s theme and variations as a framework for my variations–using his harmonic framework as the structure for my variations.
Variation 1: is a moody waltz feel that turns the feel of the Sarabande into 3/4 meter with the pulse of a typical waltz: “strong-weak-weak”, with a touch of rubato (stretched, elastic time) thrown in to give a little bit more abandon.
Variation 2: is a military march-like interpretation of the theme. It has lots of leaps and accents and is a challenge to play!
Variation 3: is a departure from the 3/4 time with a switch into a contemporary, expressive-feeling 4/4 time signature with lots of suspended chords.
Variation 4: continues in the feel of a pulse of 4, this time turned into triplets. (I marked it as 12/8 time just for ease of writing). This variation is different–you can play it quickly in a stormy fashion, or slightly slower like a babbling brook.
Video Performance
Purchase Information
Clicking on the link below will bring you to a new site: Sheet Music Plus. This piece is an original piece and is under copyright by Elena Fortin Music.
Sheet Music Plus – Four Variations on a Sarabande by Handel
Sheet Music Sample
