TITLE "Variations on a Melancholy Theme" PERFORMER "Brad Mehldau" CATALOG 0075597916508 REM GENRE "Jazz" REM DATE "2021" REM DISCID BA07FF0F REM REPLAYGAIN_ALBUM_GAIN -3.82 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_ALBUM_PEAK 0.897766 FILE "01 - Theme.flac" WAVE TRACK 01 AUDIO TITLE "Theme" ISRC USNO12000405 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN 2.27 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.785553 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "02 - Variation 1.flac" WAVE TRACK 02 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 1" ISRC USNO12000406 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -2.93 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.892609 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "03 - Variation 2.flac" WAVE TRACK 03 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 2" ISRC USNO12000407 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -3.70 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.892090 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "04 - Variation 3.flac" WAVE TRACK 04 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 3" ISRC USNO12000408 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -7.06 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.897766 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "05 - Variation 4.flac" WAVE TRACK 05 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 4" ISRC USNO12000409 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -5.73 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.893524 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "06 - Variation 5.flac" WAVE TRACK 06 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 5" ISRC USNO12000410 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -3.84 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.891937 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "07 - Variation 6.flac" WAVE TRACK 07 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 6" ISRC USNO12000411 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -4.63 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.892395 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "08 - Variation 7.flac" WAVE TRACK 08 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 7" ISRC USNO12000412 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN 0.19 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.892029 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "09 - Variation 8.flac" WAVE TRACK 09 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 8" ISRC USNO12000413 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -6.21 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.893829 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "10 - Variation 9.flac" WAVE TRACK 10 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 9" ISRC USNO12000414 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN 4.17 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.414429 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "11 - Variation 10.flac" WAVE TRACK 11 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 10" ISRC USNO12000415 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN 1.77 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.781464 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "12 - Variation 11.flac" WAVE TRACK 12 AUDIO TITLE "Variation 11" ISRC USNO12000416 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -3.57 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.893219 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "13 - Cadenza.flac" WAVE TRACK 13 AUDIO TITLE "Cadenza" ISRC USNO12000417 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -0.31 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.891235 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "14 - Postlude.flac" WAVE TRACK 14 AUDIO TITLE "Postlude" ISRC USNO12000418 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -3.95 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.895020 INDEX 01 00:00:00 FILE "15 - Encore- Variations 'X' & 'Y'.flac" WAVE TRACK 15 AUDIO TITLE "Encore: Variations 'X' & 'Y'" ISRC USNO12000419 REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_GAIN -3.81 dB REM REPLAYGAIN_TRACK_PEAK 0.893402 INDEX 01 00:00:00
Variations on a Melancholy Theme was originally composed for the piano, commissioned by Kirill Gerstein and the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation in 2012. The version featured on this recording was arranged and orchestrated for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and recorded in 2013. Mehldau’s artistic vision for the work was based on the conceptual idea that “Brahms woke up one day and had the blues.” The pragmatic simplicity of the title is like a reflection of the main theme, which by classical or jazz standards is a simple, tuneful melody. The theme and basis for the rest of the work begins with Mehldau alone on the piano gradually joined by a small ensemble of woodwinds. The orchestration of woodwinds and piano perfectly complements the melancholy theme, feeling very familiar and nostalgic.
Mehldau’s use of modern compositional techniques brings forth some unexpected tonalities, far beyond those of melancholy. The first few variations introduce odd meters, and a spacious “American” sound reminiscent of Copland and Gershwin. The orchestration constantly shifts between smaller ensembles within the orchestra, never settling in any one texture for too long. “Variation 7” is for the orchestra only, and is based on the dissonant twelve-tone technique originally created by Schoenberg. This movement is very abstract, and the initial instrumentation of bassoon, strings and percussion sounds mysterious and ethereal. It concludes with a surprisingly consonant harmonic resolution, almost as if it were making fun of the complex puzzle of music that preceded it. The live final track, Encore: Variations “X” & “Y,” features Mehldau alone at the piano. This has an improvisational and exploratory sound but ultimately returns to the melancholic theme from the beginning of the composition.
The constantly evolving textures and tonalities found throughout the work make it feel perpetually fresh and interesting. Mehldau and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra give a colorful and dynamic performance of this imaginative arrangement.
