Music with Ease > Classical Music > Concert Guide: Romantic Era > Variations on a Russian Theme - Rimsky-Korsakov

The "Variations on a Russian Theme" first appeared in 1903 and was played for the first time in this country by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the same year. The theme itself is a Russian folksong found among others in a collection made by Rimsky-Korsakov and those who collaborated in the variations are Artcibouchev, Wihtal, Liadov, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Glazounov. The six variations are a March, Allegretto, Vivo, Allegretto, Andante, and Moderato Maestoso. They hardly need analysis as they follow the original theme quite closely and are mainly interesting as an exposition of the styles of the modern Russian composers.