The Brass Variations

Be sure to reference how this variation compares to the original theme and the other variations on the Thematic Fragments page,

This variation is really just a transition between more substantial ones, though it does, as always, incorporate a piece of the original theme. As mentioned in the “…Fragments” page, this variation is slow, ponderous, and contains some “dead air,” giving a double entendre for its name, “The Pause.” It’s full of pauses — it’s in 3/4 time, with 4/4 measures providing more space for the pauses. But it’s also a pause between two very active variations (#’s 2 and 4). The ending chords of this variation will also do double duty in the fifth and final variation as a way of closing the entire piece.