Peter Lawson

Variations on "Happy Birthday to You"

This score is a version (rather than a ‘reduction') of the orchestral Variations on ‘Happy Birthday To You', (Goodmusic GMCO140) for solo instrument and piano, the piano accompaniment being for someone of a Grade 7-8 standard or upwards. The accompaniment remains the same for each instrument, but the arrangement for the soloist is slightly different, as befits the range and nature of the instrument. The solo part appearing in the pianist's score is that of a violin, but in the case of a non-violinist, it should still be easy enough to follow! The music is very much the same as the orchestral version, with the fugato section near the end slightly slowed down for clarity and ease of playing. The main criteria are that it should be a fun piece to listen to and equally fun to play. To reflect the worldwide popularity of the tune, most of the twenty variations are in musical styles from around the world and some are well-known pieces of mainly classical music in which ‘Happy Birthday' makes a comical ‘intrusion'. After an introduction, there is full-scale version of the theme itself followed by a waltz section, a Latin- American section and various other styles and well-known pieces which are ‘infiltrated'. There is then a fugato section, whose subject is based on the theme, leading to a majestic recapitulation of the theme itself, with which an audience can join in. Peter Lawson
Solo parts are available separately for Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Bassoon or Trumpet in Bb.
Duration 11 minutes