Themes and Variations – A Piano Recital by Pieter Jacobs

On Sunday, May 26^th, at 3 PM we welcome to Northwards House the celebrated South African pianist, Pieter Jacobs, presenting works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann in his recital entitled Themes and Variations.

Pieter Jacobs has performed throughout South Africa, both as soloist and chamber musician, often performing alongside internationally acclaimed instrumentalists. He obtained a PhD in Musical Arts from Yale University School of Music, having been the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. Jacobs earned a PhD in electronic engineering from the University of Pretoria, and currently holds the position of associate professor in the faculty of engineering at this institution.

The Variations on an original theme, WoO80 is arguably Beethoven’s greatest pianistic homage to the musical traditions of the Baroque. Set in the style of the traditional chaconne – a ceremonial dance in triple time with an emphasised second beat – Beethoven employs a chromatically falling bass line along with clearly defined harmonies in the chords of the opening theme. The 32 variations adhere to these harmonies quite closely, with the ground bass occurring consistently through the work.

Although Schubert composed the four Impromptus, Op. 142 in 1827, they were only published posthumously by Diabelli in 1839. Schott rejected them for publication in France, citing their difficulty as a concern. The third piece from this set, a beautiful theme and variations, presents a gentle theme that is followed by five imaginative variations.

Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 existed in several different forms during his lifetime, amongst them the two printed editions, where individual variations had been deleted and restored over the years. Brahms edited and published the work after the composer’s death with the addition of the five Posthumous Variations, and it has become standard practice to include these into the fixed order of the published score. Schumann’s fictional characters Florestan (outgoing and charismatic) and Eusebius (introspective and dreamy) is brought to musical life in many of his compositions, and we find vivid depictions of them in the contrasting extrovert and introvert episodes in the Symphonic Etudes.
Join us at Northwards House at 21 Rockridge Road in Parktown, Johannesburg on Sunday, May 26^th, at 3 PM for an afternoon of exquisite beauty in the company of the world’s most beautiful piano music.

Tickets, as always, are available at Quicket.