- Ginastera’s Variaciones concertantes (“Concertante Variations”) was written for chamber orchestra in 1953. During this time, due to political conflict in Argentina, Ginastera was forced to resign as music director of the conservatory at the National University of La Plata. Nonetheless, this period also proved prolific for the composer, producing some of his most acclaimed works.1
- In addition to being a series of 12 variations, this piece is also considered to be a concerto for orchestra in which each movement features an instrument in the ensemble as a soloist.
- Variaciones concertantes represents Ginastera’s second stylistic period, which he defined as “subjective nationalism.” In music from this period, the composer was still drawing on Argentine folk music as he did during his first period but in a more personal and abstract way.2
- The piece was commissioned and premiered by the Asociación Amigos de la Música in Buenos Aires. One of the dedicatees of the piece was Igor Markevitch, who conducted the premiere.3
Sources
- Deborah Schwartz-Kates, “Ginastera, Alberto,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed October 4, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000011159.
- Gerald Larner, “Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23” in accompanying booklet, Ginastera – Orchestral Works 3 performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Juanjo Mena, CHAN 10949, 2018, compact disc.
- Deborah Schwartz-Kates, “Ginastera, Alberto,” Grove Music Online.
Cut IDs
21718