Weber: Variationen über ein Thema aus Silvana, Op.33
Variationen über ein Thema aus Silvana, Op.33
Composition date
4 December 1811
Manuscript sources
No surviving autographs
Early Prints First edition, Schlesinger pl. S. 108 (1814). Copies in D-B and G-Lbl, not digitised.
Carl Baermann Edition Lineau S. 5588 (c. 1870), score available on IMSLP. As with Baermann's other Weber editions, Op. 33 features extensive additional dynamics, expression and accent marks, altered articulation and phrasing, and tempo modifications and metronome marks.
Baermann asserts on numerous occasions in letters to Jahns that his father Heinrich composed the third of the variations (eg. Baermann to Jahns, 3 January 1865), and in his edition gives an ossia version that he claims represents more closely reflect ‘the virtuoso spirit of the performance’ (Baermann to Jahns, 18 March 1865), while 'the clarinet part as it is printed has actually only provided a point of reference for the clavier player' (Baermann to Jahns, 19 June 1869). The ossia includes additional elaborate embellishment, and rhythmic alterations that exaggerate the gestures already described in the original version.
Metronome marks:
TEMA, Andante con moto: crotchet = 69
Var. I, più vivo: crotchet = 108
Var. III, 'Molto Adagio, quasi Fantasia' [Weber: Poco adagio]: crotchet = 40
Var. IV, Tempo primo animato e con fuoco: crotchet = 120
Var. V, 'Allegro animato, con fuoco': crotchet = 120
Var. VI, Lento: crotchet = 56, 'quasi recit' from bar 17
Var. VII, Allegro: crotchet = 104
Modern Editions
Veit, Joachim (ed.), Weber Sämtliche Werke VI Bd. 3., Schott WGA 1063 (2005).
Also published as Schott KLB 59. Based on first edition, Schlesinger op. 108.
Notes
For further sources, see Weber Gesamtasugabe.