Somewhere on this forum (perhaps on the old site) I waxed vituperative about the refusal by the owners of the MS of Sterndale Bennett's 6th PC to allow anyone to see it, let alone perform it. I heard fairly recently - and I think it was here - that the MS was now in the Bodleian Library. I regret to say that their Music Librarian informs me this is not the case. It is still with the odious owners who continue, odiously, to refuse access to it. Poor Sterndale Bennett!
On a happier note I can report that Hyperion have scheduled recording sessions for this summer for Somervell's "Highland" concerto + the "Normandy" Variations + Cowen's Concertstuck. Following that, plans are afoot for the Pixis Grand Concerto Op. 100 + the Concertino + something else. The "something else" should have been the 2nd Grand Concerto by Carl Eduard Hartknoch, but we cannot find the orchestral parts (all we have is the solo piano part), so an unsung PC written around 1830 is needed, preferably by someone who wrote only one concerto (or has only one concerto extant).
Czerny is a possibility, or Aloys Schmitt. I also thought of Kuhlau, but at 1810, that's a bit early. Thalberg would do, but it's been recorded before, a few times. The Sterndale Bennett 6 would not have been out of place, but we can forget about that for the foreseeable future.
So - suggestions on a postcard please...
Hi all
Gareth. Throw in a another unrecorded Kalkbrenner concerto. They are ALL available (ie, published with scores and parts, I believe) and always dependable in terms of quality and broad appeal. You cannot go wrong with Mr K paired with Pixis. In this instance, he is the obvious solution. Surely.
regards
Peter
I agree that Kalkbrenner would fit the bill, but Mike says it must be someone who wrote only one concerto, or who has only one concerto extant, because the two remaining Kalkbrenners will fill another Hyperion CD. Similarly, I suggested Herz 2, but Mike has vague plans to do another Herz disk with No. 2 and some of Herz's sets of Variations for piano & orchestra - maybe even Herz 6, even though it is utterly banal (finding the orchestral material for that could be difficult). So, one PC composers only please.
Gentlemen/Ladies, Hi, I'm new to this forum of apparent soulmates! Your scholarship and deep love of music sleeping in castles and belfries from once upon a time is exhilarating and eloquent.Like so many, I've embraced Hyperions RPC series.I couldn't resist joining this post, then, about a project that has brought so many of us joy, and so many neglected composers vindication.What about Carl Loewes one REMAINING piano concerto, is it in A-minor? For those of you who know his D-minor symphony, no more urging will be needed.Didn't Parish-Alvars write a piano concerto?What about Voriseks compositions(2?) for piano and orchestra? A tragically short-lived composer of the highest order, surely irrefutably.Although he doesn't fit the established criteria of one concerto, may I ask, as an aside, why Daniel Stiebelt has been utterly ignored?I believe he may not have been an attractive figure personally, but I can't help but wonder about a body of work including 8 piano concerti.Thank you for the chance to contribute, and for your learning and love of and for bypassed music.
Swedish composer Ludvig Norman wrote a Concert Piece for Piano and orchestra (Op 54). It was composed in the 1870:s, so I guess it is too "modern" here. However, I have read somewhere that he also wrote a piano concerto in his early teens (1846). Don't know anything about the quality of either piece, though. The Concert Piece was played at a concert last year at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
Berwalds PC is another suggestion.
How I love to see the Pixis Grand Concerto for Piano and Orchestra op. 100 coupled with his magnificent Concerto for Piano, Violin and String Orchestra in F sharp minor...
This gorgeous work was previously released by Turnabout – not a surprise – and performed by violinist Kees Kooper and his wife Mary-Louise Boehm on the piano, together with the Westphalian Symphony Orchestra, Recklinghausen under the baton of Siegfried Landau (1975). Mary-Louise Boehm passed away on 29 November 2002.
Gareth, is there any change that Kees Kooper is willing to cooperate? If he has the score, maybe he is willing to give it to Mike Spring? His interesting notes on the LP sleeve are still valuable and can be used for a booklet... Music lovers will be very grateful...
Peter, I can and sincerely will endorse Pixis, the Turnabout LP( I have it), and the concerto for piano and violin.In truth, haunting this forum before registering, the pending recording/ release in the RPC series which excited me the most was the Pixis.I've learned from the forum that the Pixis was " in the recording studio" for what seems the last year or two. So frustrating to learn that it hasn't even been recorded yet, and that that may not even take place until next summer or later. I was so tantalized by the Turnabout LP when I acquired it, that I investigated Pixis.If my information is accurate, he also penned an Overture in F-major, and a Symphony!But, back to your main assertion: The Piano/Violin concerto is beautiful, thrilling, and moving.Its absence and invisibility is another sad injustice, to the work, the composer, and to music lovers.I wish what you wish.
I agree wholeheartedly that the obvious choice as filler on the Pixis disk is the double concerto, but Kees Kooper doesn't answer my emails and I have heard that he is unwilling to countenance another recording while the Vox/Turnabout performance remains out of the catalogue. Certainly the Turnabout recording should be issued on CD - it was a fine performance of a delicious piece of music.
A couple of suggestions from the 1850s: Eduard Franck's sole Piano Concerto and Emile Prudent's Concerto Symphonique op.34. I have no idea about the quality or availability of either work.
They're both a bit late. The Pixis Op. 100 dates from 1828 (that was when it was published in the UK by Chappell's of London). The Hartknoch would have fitted well, making its appearance in 1830. So ideally, one is looking for something in the window 1825-1835. I don't know the date of the concerto by Aloys Schmitt. It's his op. 76, so it may be too late.
Berwald's PC appeared in 1855.
Czerny's Grand Concerto Op. 28, which was dedicated to Hummel, was published in 1825. What he called his "Premier Grand Concerto" Op. 214 was published by Hofmeister in 1830 (according to the BL).
Almost all of Steibelt's concertos appeared well before 1820. Also, they really are not very good.
Parish-Alvars' Concerto in G minor for piano and orchestra, Op. 90 dates from after 1844, so it's a bit late. Also, I'm not sure it exists any more.
I've been looking for the score and parts of Franck's PC for a long time. It hasn't turned up yet. RAM has a 2-piano score of Prudent's Concerto Symphonique (1850). I haven't seen it. There is, however, a good chance that the Full score may be in the BNF. But both rather late to companion the Pixis.
I must just put you right, Early Romantic: the Pixis was not reported as being in the studio, merely on the list of concertos Hyperion intended to record. You can blame me, if you like, for holding it up. It would probably have been done instead of the Benedict concertos if I hadn't located the solo piano part of the Op. 45 in time! Sorry!
There must be some good reason why George Macfarren's 1835 Piano Concerto is not in the frame, especially after brother Walter's Konzertstuck graced the Benedict CD.
Otherwise, assuming Carl Filtsch's Konzertstuck of 1843 is tool late, all I'm left with is the sole Piano Concertos of Camille Stamaty (1832) and Theodore Doehler (1833).
Good hunting, Gareth.
Gareth, I take your correction.I think I knew, even as I typed, that what I really meant was the correction you made.I'll also say that maybe that's how frustrated I was to know something so desired was in sight, but out of reach.If the Benedict superseded Pixis, thats just as well:I've heard excerpts, and the idiom is alluring, just what I like, all the more so for being in a minor key.Another composer who I've been beguiled by is Conradin Kreutzer. I've never understood why we don't know beyond Das Nachtlager von Granada and the septet, as beautiful as they surely are.His other greatest hit, the opera Der Verschwender contains the beggars song, "Ohort des armen Mannes Bitte", famously described by another for its "haunting, melancholy beauty, not unworthy of Schubert".I love composers such as Kreutzer for suspending their era in music, for all time, and for another time- like ours.Biedermeier in the best, most fragrant way.Accordingly, he wrote 3 piano concertos, an early one in 1819, and a C major, op.50, from 1822, plus an E flat major, op. 65 from around 1825. Would the more accomplished scholars here be able to illuminate these works more for us?If they are extant and of substance, could they be revived, and possibly partnered?
Well done, Mark. Unfortunately, I think the MacFarren concerto is lost. Filtsch and Stamaty are wonderfully obscure. Filtsch is poorly represented in the national collections of Germany and Austria. There may, of course, be an archive somewhere, but right now I don't know where that is. The Stamaty may be in the BNF, but as their catalogue is not online, it means a letter or email tio a librarian and they are hopeless at replying. Doehler may be coupled later with Thalberg. Herold wrote 4 piano concertos but we cannot find the orchestral parts! If someone came up with the parts to Moscheles No. 8, that would be perfect.
Gareth, I have a radio recording of the Filtsch Konzertstuck, so a score must be in existence. This web site (http://www.freewebs.com/fjgajewski/) says that one is available for purchase here (http://www.booklocker.com/books/2232.html) for $21.95 as an Ebook. It also posts a link to a PDF here (http://www.freewebs.com/fjgajewski/Filtsch%20MS%20draft%20of%20KS%20(3pp.).pdf) of Filtsch's own manuscript. The work, by the way, is very pleasant, if not exactly earth shattering in the performance I have.
Oh good,more Frederic Cowen,at last!! Another composer who,like
Holbrooke, I have pestered record companies to record.......
An article by,Frederic Cowen,entitled, 'Long hair & music' (1907),
is for sale on ebay,if anyone's interested...............
Thanks very much, Mark. I've downloaded the score, which Mike Spring already has. He thinks it may be a bit short as a filler for the Pixis disk, but he hopes to find a place for it in the RPC series somewhere. I think the Aloys Schmitt might be the best choice: the MS score and parts are in Fleisher, so there'll be no problems getting hold of the performance material.
Mike also confirmed that he has not been able to loocate the MacFarren concerto. One would think that it ought to be at the RAM, with the rest of MacFarren's MSS - but it's not.
Re a suitable filler for the Pixis
There is some George MacFarren material in the Cambridge University Library, I have been given to understand from a reliable source - has anyone checked this out - however I do not think any piano concerto of his would be a suitable companion for the Pixis concerti! - if found there are other far more suitable contenders for a future coulping etc....
The concerto I consider that may be the most appropriate is that by Edouard Wolff - although there is the same old problem with availability of parts etc. I have a printed copy of the first movement - published as his Op39 Allegro de Concert - the titlepage indicates that it forms part of a concerto, and it would complement the Pixis admirably, being stylistically quite similar. Once again, perhaps the BNF may have the required material.......
Also, what about the Dreyschock Op27 Concertstuck, which of course should have been included with his Op137 and the Kullak - could this be an opportunity to correct this oversight! If so, we would still require another short work of at least 10 minutes!
Then there are the concertos etc of Charles Mayer - there is also an earlier work of his - a Grand Rondeau Brillant Op28 which. once again, is not too far removed from the Pixis Op100. Orchestral parts required here I'm afraid though!
However, I DO HAVE the piano part AND complete set of parts for Kreutzer's 1st Concerto - In B flat Op42. That said, in content it really belongs more to an earlier period, although it is quite attractive and tuneful and should fit in to some recording plan somewhere in the not too distant future!
Just a question. Didn't Ludwig Berger (1777-1839) wrote a piano concerto in C Major? Is the full score (piano and orchestra) known?
I'm thinking of Berger because, after hearing so many fine, unsung piano sonatas, I still think his Grande Sonate op. 7 is one of the most impressive pieces in this genre. What a concerto he must have composed, that is to say if it's in the same brilliant, melodic style, full of depth and passion, as his wonderful sonata. If the full score still exists, wouldn't that fit with the Pixis? Or for another RPC series release, coupled with the Kreutzer?
Berger first. Yes, he did. Mike Spring gave me a copy of the piano part. But I have failed to find any orchestral material.
As to Dreyschock, the Concert Piece in C minor + the Salut de Vienne, for piano, triangle and strings, the full score of which I have, would be good fillers for the Pixis - but I'll have a hard time persuading Mike that they are worth recording!
I've been looking for the orchestral material for Edouard Wolff's concerto for a while. I've tried the BNF but the so-and-so's won't respond to my enquiries.
Charles Mayer - I've never searched for the orchestral material for any of his concertante works, Again, BNF might well have something. However, beware! There were 2 Charles Mayers who wrote piano music. The dates of the first are 1799-1862. I don't know the dates of the other, but he was definitely later. These are frequently confused. I am, for example, a little suspicious of a "Concerto Symphonique" by Charles Mayer, the Ms score and parts of which are in the Fleisher Collection, ascribed to the earlier Mayer. Without seeing the work, it is difficult to tell, but the title "Concerto Symphonique" was, I believe, invented by Litolff and I'm not sure it was used by other composers until after Mayer's dates (I may be wrong, of course). Certainly, the later Mayer wrote a Concerto Symphonique, Op. 89 (piano part in LC) which was published in 1870. The latest composition by this later Charles Mayer, held in LC, is dated 1911. To add to the confusion, not all the piano pieces available online at the IMSLP, which lumps them altogether on one page, ascribing them to the earlier Mayer, are by that composer - some are definitely later. And the picture of Charles Mayer which appears on that page is definitely not of the earlier Mayer; his clothes and hairstyle are those of a later period.
The Kreutzer sounds fascinating but he did write in a more classical vein.
I shall definitely write to Cambridge University Library about the MacFarren works - I presume we are talking about MSS here because their holdings of printed works would appear on the COPAC, and there's no MacFarren concerto listed there.
I should add that the Mayer Concerto Symphonique in Fleisher is scored for the classical orchestra with the addition of trombones, and is in 3 movts (Allegro - Andante quasi allegretto - Allegro). It is 194pp in length, which makes it almost as long as the MS of the 3rd Litolff concerto symphonique, which is in 4 movts.
I would be interested in the original version of the Dreyschock Konzertstuck, even if Frank Cooper's modest emendations improved upon it.
Thanks for your interesting and informative post, Gareth.
Absolutely.
With the very greatest respect for Mike Spring, may his efforts be blessed in Heaven, I can never understand his antipathy to Dreyschock's Konzertstuck. I have to accept, of course, that it isn't a masterpiece, but it is so much more an enjoyable work than the Piano Concerto, which I'm afraid I find vapidly full of "noodling" and quite devoid of melodic interest. Having loved the Konzerstuck since I bought the Genesis LP in the arly 1970s, I had eagerly awaited the Piano Concerto's release by Hyperion and can't really recall a more crushing musical disappointment.
I do agree, Mark. While I enjoy Dreyschock's PC, the Konzertstuck is lyrically superior - a most attractive piece.
Hello friends.
A couple of concertante possibilities - not so far recorded, as far as I know, are by Jan Vaclav Vorisek: Bravura Variations Op 14 for piano and orchestra and a Grand rondeau concertant in D for piano, violin, 'cello and orchestra Op 25. Both date from about 1820.
Of the many concertante works by J.W.Kalliwoda, there is a Grand Rondo Op 16, for piano and orchestra (1830) that would, I am certain, reward a revival.
I don't know whether reliable scores of the above three works are accessible, however.
Lew
For the early romantics, Norbert Burgmuller and Dohler are the first ones that come to mind. The Burgmuller has been recorded before, but the Dohler has not (I think) and is an impressive piece.
Not sure of the levels of romanticism (or dates) but could consider concerti by Corri, Cramer, Czerny, GG Ferrari, G E Griffin, A F C Kollmann, Kreutzer, Kufferath, Lessel, J B Logier, Parish Alvars, Ries, Street, Tomasek & Waley.
The shorter works for piano and orchestra are almost beyond numbers, but the Grande Fantasy Norvege by Willmers, Norma Variations by Nicolai (recently recorded) and Les Clochettes by Adolfo Fumagalli are great fun.
God only knows where the parts are for these. Personally, i actively avoid them as costs for ordering copies from some libraries are rather expensive.
Mr Spring has at least another 50 years worth ;D
Thal
Have you considered the Norbert Burgmueller concerto?
What we need are names PLUS location of orchestral material. A bit of research assistance would be greatly appreciated.
The Ries concertos are being done by Naxos. Waley is far too late (score and parts in RAM). No orchestral material available for Griffin or Parish-Alvars. Cramer too early, likewise Kreutzer (at least in style). The Street concertos are too late, and are pretty poor stuff anyway. Czerny I've mentioned before. The Logier concerto (Op. 13) is 1815 - a bit early, and no orchestral parts immediately available (pub. Clementi). Montague Corri is like Cramer - representative of an earlier age - besides no concertante piano works available in UK collections. Fumagalli's Les Clochettes is 1848 - orchestral material available in Milan and Bologna.
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 06 November 2009, 21:54
No orchestral material available for Griffin or Parish-Alvars.
http://lib.ram.ac.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/Vvp2JvFSrm/0/289640004/9
There is my research for the day.
Thal
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 06 November 2009, 21:54
Montague Corri is like Cramer - representative of an earlier age
I was referring to Philip Antony Corri, but i did not make this clear.
Thal
Thanks. Philip Antony Corri's Concerto da Camera is 1813 - a bit early - though BL has parts. I suspect, like Kreutzer, it's a backward looking piece. Most British music of this period tended to be "classical" in style. Also, it has to be said, rather feeble, by and large. It was not a high point in the history of British music!
I have not looked at the Corri for yonks, but i expect you are correct.
Perhaps a Dussek concerto might fit the bill. Wrong timeframe, but with a romantic feel. I have found about 13 of them, but never looked for any parts.
Thats it from me. I have done my work for Hyperion and happily retire.
Thal
Dussek is also too early, if we're still talking about partnering Pixis. Did Franz Hunten compose any concertos?
Here in the States Sig. Corri is better known as Arthur Clifton, of course, and Mary Louise Boehm, Kees Kooper et al, performed his delightful Concerto di camera at Kaufman Concert Hall here in NYC back in March of 1985... It is scored for piano, string quartet and flute and strongly Classical in style (the program notes say it was written 1812,) but well worth performing. I helped put the program together and it seems to me that we got our parts at Library of Congress, but I may be misremembering that part.
The rest of the concert might be of interest to fans of unsungs. All composers were American, by birth or adoption. It began with the Clifton (1784-1832), then there was a group of songs by Griffes (1884-1920), then 3 movements from a C.M. Loeffler (1861-1935) Partita for violin and piano, Then Mrs. Beach (1867-1944) Romance for violin and piano and an African Dance by William Grant Still (1895-1978), the Dance of the Naiads (Gavotte) for flute and string quartet by Homer N. Bartlett (1845-1920) [I dug up the Bartlett and copied the parts...it was a lovely little piece and well received] then the Theme and Variations for flute and string quartet by Mrs. Beach, and the super-rarity of the evening, the Concerto de chambre, Op.26 for violin, piano, doublebass and string quartet by Blair Fairchild (1877-1933)
David
Quote from: thalbergmad on Friday 06 November 2009, 22:27
Quote from: Gareth Vaughan on Friday 06 November 2009, 21:54
No orchestral material available for Griffin or Parish-Alvars.
http://lib.ram.ac.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/Vvp2JvFSrm/0/289640004/9
There is my research for the day.
Thal
The link you give is to a blank page on the RAM Library site with a message saying your session has timed out. What is it you found, please, Thal?
Oops, I forgot that the search times out. It looks like the RAM has the full works to the Parish Alvars Concerto.
I never bothered ordering this as i bought the solo version from Floraleda Sacchi the harpist.
Thal
If it helps, here is my list of scores for works for piano and orchestra. With thanks to many helpful librarians and individuals. Not completely up to date, but most of it is there.
http://rapidshare.com/files/303592999/Concertos_of_the_CPS.pdf (http://rapidshare.com/files/303592999/Concertos_of_the_CPS.pdf)
Regretfully, when i started this list, i did not bother to insert any dates which I wish i had done.
I cannot help but feel that the orchestra takes a very minor role in a lot of works of the era in question. Perhaps some amateur musician who would like his mugshot on the insert of a Hyperion CD could put something together from the tuttis marked on the pieces scored for solo piano?
Being a non musician, I do not know if this is possible.
Thal
As for the Hartknoch, there are 2 entries of the 2nd concerto in the old Hofmeister Catalogue. Not sure if one of these is for the full score.
http://www.hofmeister.rhul.ac.uk/2008/content/database/search (http://www.hofmeister.rhul.ac.uk/2008/content/database/search)
http://www.hofmeister.rhul.ac.uk/2008/content/database/search/page(1);jsessionid=C4BFBDE14DD4FFB9FBDB95F9BDF7CCB4.balancer3 (http://www.hofmeister.rhul.ac.uk/2008/content/database/search/page(1);jsessionid=C4BFBDE14DD4FFB9FBDB95F9BDF7CCB4.balancer3)
I suspect the parts are in are in the Austrian National Library, but they do not show up on their web catalogue. Perhaps they are hidden away on some old card system.
http://www.onb.ac.at/ (http://www.onb.ac.at/)
There is a librarian there called Elizabeth Navratnil Wagner who's e mail i have somewhere. She has helped me on a couple of occasions, so i do not really want to ask for more assistance. She does not like to converse in English, so perhaps someone fluent in German could drop her a line.
Somebody, somewhere has this.
Thal
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Thursday 05 November 2009, 09:50
Dreyschock's Konzertstuck. I have to accept, of course, that it isn't a masterpiece, but it is so much more an enjoyable work than the Piano Concerto, which I'm afraid I find vapidly full of "noodling" and quite devoid of melodic interest. Having loved the Konzerstuck since I bought the Genesis LP in the arly 1970s, I had eagerly awaited the Piano Concerto's release by Hyperion and can't really recall a more crushing musical disappointment.
I cannot say I agree with you, Mark. I don't think Dreyschock's PC is that bad at all. It's not a masterpiece of course, but I like listening to it. The number that "stays in the box" is 22, the Busoni PC. What a strange work. Despite all the enthusiastic reviews, it never dawned upon me and I've given up. But this is off-topic.
Fair enough, Peter, we're all entitled to our opinions, especially when they are on as subjective a topic as music. I suppose the issue for me isn't so much the absolute merit of the Piano Concerto as the relative merits of it and the Konzerstuck.
I understand, Mark. Unfortunately I've never heard Dreyschock's Konzertstück, therefore I can only hope it will be recorded and released.
Maybe Bob Commagere can be persuaded to re-release the Raff/Dreyschock in CD format. It's good to know Genesis is still up and around.
He did give me permission to digitalise the LP a while ago and post it privately.
I will ask him to see if he will allow me to post it here.
Thanks to Alan for changing my posts so the links are "clickable". I have no idea how to do this.
Thal
To make a link 'clickable', simple highlight it and then click on the 'Insert hyperlink' button - i.e. the one second from the left on the lower row.
Quote from: thalbergmad on Saturday 07 November 2009, 21:50
He did give me permission to digitalise the LP a while ago and post it privately.
I will ask him to see if he will allow me to post it here.
While you're at it, why don't you extend an invite? He has a lot of fans here.
Just a quick note re P.A.Corri - if anyone is interested at all I have a copy of this complete with all the instrumental parts. It is a most attractive work and as far as English works go from this period, probably ranks amongst the best in my opinion, although for the reasons stated by others, is perhaps not suitable to go with the Pixis! I have also had the good fortune to have had the opportunity to perform this with ensemble and was well received on both occasions!
Also - concerning the Logier Op13 - I have played this in a version I have for 2 pianos (very unusual for this period!) and likewise would not hesitate to recommend it - this also went down well and I am sure the orchestral material could be reconstructed - especially with the benefit of a separate Piano II part in addition to the indicated instrumentation in the solo part.
Bravo, Martin! These are encouraging news.
Off topic, but Thalbergmad needed to know how to make a link in a post clickable. To expand on Alan's explanation, I've added an illustrated tutorial to the Problems Section.
Very much obliged.
I am a bit of a computer noob.
Regs
Thal
This is with regards to the earlier discussion in here about possible fillers for the Pixis Grand concerto for RPC.
how about the Berwald concerto?
Quote from: FBerwald on Tuesday 10 November 2009, 18:09
This is with regards to the earlier discussion in here about possible fillers for the Pixis Grand concerto for RPC.
how about the Berwald concerto?
I already suggested that one, but from what I understand of the following discussions, it is probably regarded as too "modern" in this case. :-\
Perhaps a silly suggestion, but why not fill up a Pixis disk with some Pixis.
The scores with parts for Les Trois Colchettes Rondo Brilliant Op.120 and Fantaisie Militaire Op.121 are in the British Library.
Otherwise I would suggest Variations on a Haydn Theme Op.73 by Czerny, for no other reason than I rather like it.
Thal
Berwald .. too modern???
Quote from: FBerwald on Wednesday 11 November 2009, 08:26
Berwald .. too modern???
Well, I guess everything depends on what you compare with... :) I believe Gareth is looking for a work from around 1830.
The concerto of Haydn Wilson dates from 1835 and therefore fits into the required timeframe. I expect the parts are hidden away in Cambridge University Library.
Unusually, it ends in a series of variations.
Thal