Air avec variations (Aylesford Piece 16), Aylesford Pieces

6.6 Follow a theme through its variations

Study Handel’s Air with variations in F (Aylesford Piece 16): the air (bars 1–13), then two variations (bars 14–27 and 28–41), each with the same two repeated halves and the same harmony as the theme while the notes move faster. Follow the air’s melody and bass through each variation before you play it. Then tap two even notes in one hand against three in the other until both meet on the beat without effort: the drill and the card teach two against three, and the hemiola card shows two bars of three regrouped as three of two. At the keyboard: clap two groups of three, then three groups of two.

Ideas

• Theme and variations
• Polyrhythm
• Hemiola

Theory cards

• Theme and variations
• Two against three
• Hemiola

Technique

• C major two against three, hands together
• F major scale, hands together, 2 octaves