by Cecil Turner
Beethoven's Thirty-two Variations were written in 1806 and therefore represent the composer in full command of his creative gifts. The key scheme of these Variations is interesting: Variations 1-12 are in C minor, 13-17 in C major, and 18-32 in C minor.
F. Bonavia, in an article in the Radio Times, said that in these Variations Beethoven 'recalls Bach on account of the material and spiritual unity of a work that resembles a chaconne in every particular. There is no change of rhythm and the only change in tonality is given by the passage from minor into major.'
