The composer's intention in this work is to present a composition of genuine musical seriousness that is accessible to very young bands. The theme of THEME AND VARIATIONS has a somber character resembling some of the the ethnic melodies collected in eastern Europe during the early years of the twentieth century. The theme is eight measures long and is divided into two symmetrical halves, which are in turn divided into two-measure units that form a call-and-response pattern. Melodically, the theme takes all its pitches from the diatonic minor scale (the white notes of the piano keyboard starting on the note, D).

In the first eight measures the theme is presented in low instruments with an answer in high instruments. In the next eight measures, there is a canonic treatment of the theme, followed by a two-measure transition. The next eight measures (meas. 19-26) contain a diminution of the theme (with the theme played in 8th notes), presented against staccato quarter note accompaniment. Beginning at measure 27 the theme is heard in the relative major key (E-flat major). Measures 37-45 return to the original tonality of C minor with the theme played against a rhythmic ostinato first introduced by the snare drum in bars 35-36, utilizing call-and-response pattern as in the beginning of the work.

THEME AND VARIATIONS was composed during November and December of 1993 especially for the North Courtland School Band of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Melodie A. Shamp, director. The first performance was played by the North Courtland School Band on March 8, 1994, conducted by the composer.

TIMOTHY BROEGE