Many classical and later composers have written compositions in the form of variations on a theme by another composer.
This is an incomplete list of such works, sorted by the name of the original composer. The list does not include variations written on composers' own or original themes, or on folk, traditional or anonymous melodies.
Many of these works are called simply "Variations on a Theme of/by ...". Other works, which often involve substantial development or transformation of the base material, may have more fanciful titles such as Caprice, Fantasy, Paraphrase, Reminiscences, Rhapsody, etc. These other types of treatments are not listed here unless there is evidence that they include variations on a theme.
Adam de la Halle Rolande Falcinelli: Variations sur un rondeau d'Adam de la Halle (from 14 Études insérées dans l' à l'orgue)
Adolphe Adam Carl Czerny: Fantasia and Variations on Favorite Airs from Le postillon de Lonjumeau, Op. 474 (piano) Henri Herz: Fantaisie et variations sur deux motifs du Postillon de Lonjumeau, Op. 94 (piano)
Dionisio Aguado y García Emilio Pujol: Variations on a Theme by Aguado (guitar)
Antoine Albanèse Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 12 Variations in G on "La Bergère Célimène", K. 374a (violin and piano) Variations in G on "Hélas, j'ai perdu mon amant" (recte "Au bord d'une fontaine"), K. 374b (violin and piano)
Charles-Valentin Alkan Peter Lamb (1925-2013): Alkan Variations for two double basses and piano (2002). Based on the theme of Alkan's Le festin d'Ésope. Nikolaos-Laonikos Psimikakis-Chalkokondylis: 11 Transformations on Alkan, 2 violins, viola & cello (2013). The composer's note states: "The material of each of the transformations consists entirely of the notes and rests found in the first six measures of a string quartet by Alkan." Ronald Stevenson: Le Festin d'Alkan RSS 337 (piano; 1988–97). The third movement consists of multiple variations on themes by Alkan. The composer's note states "This work encapsulates my idea that composition, transcription and variation are all essentially the same thing".Ronald Stevenson Society website Mark Gasser, "Ronald Stevenson, Composer-Pianist: An Exegetical Critique from a Pianistic Perspective", PhD diss. ([Western Australia]: Edith Cowan University, 2013):
Alexander Alyabyev Mikhail Glinka: Variations on "The Nightingale" in E minor (piano; 1833)
Louis Angely Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Variations brillantes on Das Fest der Handwerken, Op. 115 (piano and orchestra; 1830)
Thomas Arne Ludwig van Beethoven: 5 Variations on "Rule, Britannia!", WoO 79 (piano) Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Variations on "Rule, Britannia!", S 187, WoO 10 (piano) Franz Liszt: Grand concert paraphrase on "God Save the Queen" and "Rule Britannia"
Daniel Auber Carl Czerny: Brilliant variations on the Tyrolean theme from La fiancée, Op. 228 (piano 6-hands) Variations brillantes sur le duo favori "Dépéchons, travaillons" ("Ohne Rast, angefasst") de l'opéra Le Maçon (piano 4-hands) Grandes variations di bravura on Fra Diavolo, Op. 232 (piano solo) César Franck: Variations brillantes sur la ronde favorite de Gustave III (piano and orchestra; 1834/35) Henri Herz: Variations concertantes sur la tyrolienne favorite de La fiancée, Op. 56 (violin and piano) Variations concertantes sur la barcarolle favorite de Fra Diavolo, Op. 59 (violin and piano) Variations concertantes sur la marche favorite du Philtre (Der Liebestrank), Op. 70 (piano 4-hands) Variations et rondo sur Le lac des fées, Op. 114 Fantaisie et variations brillantes sur des motifs de La sirene
Marx Augustin Henri Herz: Variations sur l'air allemand "O Mein lieber Augustin" (piano 4-hands) Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Variations on "O du lieber Augustin" in C major, S. 47, WoO 2 (orchestra) Franz Krommer: Variations on "Oh du lieber Augustin" in D major, Op. 59, P IX:10 (flute quartet) Paul Wranitzky: Variations on "Oh du lieber Augustin" (xylophone, strings, trumpet and drums) Variations on "Oh du lieber Augustin" (orchestra)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Julius Bürger: Variations on a Theme of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (orchestra)
Johann Sebastian Bach Elia Alessandro Calderan: Bach Variations (Variazioni sur un preludio di J S Bach) Elliot del Borgo: Chorale Paraphrase - based upon the chorale "Sleepers Awake" (concert band; 1999) Norman Dello Joio: Variants on a Bach Chorale, for orchestra, 1986 Edison Denisov: "Es ist genug", Variations on "Es ist genug" (It is enough) from Bach's cantata O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60, setting a melody by Johann Rudolf Ahle (viola and piano, 1984; viola, flute, oboe, celeste and string quintet, 1986) Ben Emberley: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J.S Bach, Op. 44 (two pianos; 2021) (Theme is the Gavotte en Rondeau from Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006 ) Charlotte Hampe: Variations on a Chorale of Johann Sebastian Bach (violin and viola; 1982)Website of Schneider Musik Richard Kearns: Variation on an Invention by J. S. Bach (winds; brass) Variations on Fugue BWV 1080 Variation on a Theme by Bach ("Playing a round with Bach") Giorgi Latso: Variations on a Theme of J. S. Bach Franz Liszt: Variations on a Theme from Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (BWV 12), S.180 (piano; 1862), based on BWV 12 David Matthews: Variations on Bach's Chorale Die Nacht ist Kommen Op 40 (for strings, 1986) Max Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Bach, Op. 81 (piano; 1904) Marga Richter: Variations and Interludes on Themes from Monteverdi and Bach (concerto for violin, cello, piano and large orchestra; 1992) Georg Schumann: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Bach, Op. 59 (orchestra)Georg Schumann Gesellschaft. Retrieved 23 June 2018 Robert Simpson: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Bach (strings; 1991) Reginald Smith Brindle: Variants on Two Themes of J. S. Bach (guitar; 1970) Ronald Stevenson: 18 Variations on a Bach Chorale (piano; 1946) Alexander Winkler: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by J. S. Bach, in E♭ major for 2 pianos, Op. 12 (1906)
Béla Bartók Andreas Benend: Variationen über ein Thema von Bartók (piano)IMSLP Reena Esmail: Il giuoco del "giuoco delle coppie": Variations on a Theme of Béla Bartók (piano; 2004) Ivo Petrić: Variations on a Theme of Bartók (viola and piano; 1954)
Antoine-Laurent Baudron Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 12 Variations in E-flat major on the Romance "Je suis Lindor" from Le barbier de Seville, K. 354 (piano)
Arnold Bax Ronald Stevenson: Fugue, Variations and Epilogue on a Theme of Bax (piano; 1982–83; 2003)
Ludwig van Beethoven Edwin Carr: 6 Variations on a Theme by Beethoven (piano; 1992) Carl Czerny: Variations on the Beloved "Sehnsucht Waltz" by Beethoven Stephen Heller: 33 Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, Op. 130 21 Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, Op. 133 Franz Hummel: 33 Veränderungen über einen Walzer von Anton Diabelli (a paraphrase of Beethoven's Variations?) (piano; 2006/07)Neos 20807/08 Ilja Hurník: Variations on a Theme of Beethoven (viola and piano; 1998) Friedrich Kuhlau: 9 Variations on "Heart, My Heart, What Is Giving?" (Op. 75/2), Op. 72a (piano 4-hands; 1826) Variations on "The Quails Beating" (WoO 129), Op. 75 (piano 4-hands; 1826) Variations on "The Luck of Life" (Op. 88), Op. 76 (piano 4-hands; 1826) Variations on "Longing" (Op. 83/2), Op. 77 (piano 4-hands; 1826) Max Reger: Variations and Fugue on a theme of Beethoven (orchestra or for two pianos) Rudolf, Archduke of Austria: Forty Variations on a Theme by Beethoven (piano, on "O Hoffnung", WoO 200) Camille Saint-Saëns: Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, Op. 35 (2 pianos; 1874; on the Trio from movement III, Menuetto, of Piano Sonata No. 18, Op. 31/3) Franz Schmidt: Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven (piano left hand and orchestra; 1923) Georg Schumann: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Beethoven, Op. 32 (2 pianos) Robert Schumann: Studies in the Form of Free Variations on a Theme by Beethoven, WoO. 31 (piano) Variations on a Theme by Beethoven (unpub.) Peter Sculthorpe: Beethoven Variations (versions for didgeridoo and orchestra; orchestra with optional didgeridoo; 2003) Robert Simpson: Variations and Finale on a Theme by Beethoven (piano; 1990) Rafał Stradomski: Beethoven Variations (piano; 2008) Hans Zender: 33 Veränderungen über 33 Veränderungen (Ensemble; 2010/11)Ensemble Modern
Jack Behrens Godfrey Ridout: Ontario Variations: 4 Variations on a Theme by Jack Behrens (piano; 1979)
Vincenzo Bellini Charles-Valentin Alkan: Variations sur "La tremenda ultrice spada" d' I Capuleti e i Montecchi de Bellini, Op. 16/5 (piano, 1834). Ole Bull: Fantaisie et variations de bravoure sur un thème de Bellini, Op. 3 (violin and orchestra) Frédéric Chopin: see Hexameron Carl Czerny: Introduction, Variations and Polacca after a Theme from Il pirata, Op. 160 (piano and orchestra) Variations brillantes on a Theme from Norma, Op. 197 (piano 6-hands) Grand Trio No. 4 Air from I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Variations, Op. 295 (piano 6-hands) Brilliant Variations on a Theme from Norma, Op. 297 (piano 6-hands) Fantaisie et variations sur I puritani, Op. 376 Variations sur un motif de l'opera La sonnambula, Op. 333/2 (piano) see also Hexameron Louise Farrenc: Variations sur un thème des Capuleti de Bellini, Op. 29 (piano 4-hands, arrangements for 2 or 3 pianos)IMSLP: List of compositions by Louise Farrenc Mikhail Glinka: Variations on a Theme from I Capuleti e i Montecchi in C major (piano; 1832) Henri Herz: Grandes variations seul sur la marche favorite de l'opéra I puritani, Op. 82 Fantaisie et variations sur un thème favori de Bellini, Op. 90 (piano and orchestra) Variations Brillantes on a Theme by Bellini - La Sonnambula, Op. 105 see also Hexameron Hexameron, a collaborative piano work by Frédéric Chopin, Carl Czerny, Henri Herz, Franz Liszt, Johann Peter Pixis and Sigismond Thalberg, who all wrote variations on a theme from I puritani Friedrich August Kummer: Adagio et variations sur un thème de l'opéra I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Op. 31 (cello and piano or string quartet) Franz Liszt: see Hexameron Joseph Merk: Air final varié de La sonnambula, Op. 37 Elias Parish Alvars: Introduction and Variations on Themes from Norma (harp) Johann Peter Pixis: see Hexameron Clara Schumann: Variations de Concert on a Cavatina from Bellini's Il Pirata, Op. 8 (piano) Sigismond Thalberg: Grande fantaisie et variations sur un motif de l'opéra I Montecchi et Capuleti, Op. 10 Grande fantaisie et variations sur des motifs de l'opéra Norma, Op. 12 See also Hexameron
Alban Berg T. J. Anderson: Variations on a Theme by Alban Berg (viola and piano; 1977) Ross Lee Finney: Variations on a Theme by Alban Berg (piano; 1977, on the opening theme of the Violin Concerto) Hans Erich Apostel: First string quartet (variations on a theme from Wozzeck in the 2nd movement)
Luciano Berio Carlos Stella: Pastiches, Parodies and Variations on two themes by Stravinsky and Berio (piccolo clarinet, trombone, xylorimba and vibraphone)
Charles Auguste de Bériot José Ferrer: Fantasía con variaciones sobre un tema de Bériot, Op. 3 (guitar)
Hector Berlioz Walter Braunfels: Phantastiche Erscheinungen eines Themas von Hector Berlioz ( Fantastic Appearances of a Theme by Berlioz), Op. 25, for symphony orchestra (1914–1917; the theme is the "Song of the Flea" from La damnation de Faust) Ronald Stevenson: Variations vocalises sur deux thèmes de Les Troyens (mezzo-soprano and orchestra; 1969) John Scott Whiteley: Variations on a Theme of Berlioz, Op. 1 (organ; 1973/84)
Leonard Bernstein John Williams: "For New York" (Variations on theme by Leonard Bernstein) (1988)
Henri-Montan Berton Friedrich Kuhlau: Variations on an Air by Berton, WoO 196 (piano; 1808)
Francesco Bianchi Carl Maria von Weber: 7 Variations sur l'air "Vien quà, Dorina bella", Op. 7, J. 53 (1807)
Sir Henry Bishop Henri Herz: Variations et rondeau on "Home! Sweet Home!", Op. 16 (2 pianos)