For those unknowing, Beethoven wrote in his diary that he wanted “to show the British what a treasure they have in God Save the King”, a reference to his set of variations on the national anthem, composed in 1803.

Sarah Beth Briggs recorded the virtuoso set precisely one month before the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the recording heralds the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023.

The lesser-known Variations on an Original Theme in F major (1802) represent Beethoven the revolutionary. Uniquely, each variation was written in a different key, the dramatic effect of which would have startled the composer’s contemporaries.

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791)
9 Variations K.573 on a Minuet by Jean-Pierre Duport
1. Tema (1.25)
2. Var. I (1.12)
3. Var. II (1.15)
4. Var. III (1.21)
5. Var. IV (1.28)
6. Var. V (1.38)
7. Var. VI (1.47)
8. Var. VII (1.09)
9. Var. VIII: Adagio (2.04)
10. Var. IX – Allegro – Tempo primo (2.08)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770–1827)
7 Variations WoO 78 on ‘God Save the King’
11. Tema (1.07)
12. Var. I (0.50)
13. Var. II (0.46)
14. Var. III (0.52)
15. Var. IV (0.53)
16. Var. V: Con espressione (1.21)
17. Var. VI: Allegro. Alla marcia (1.03)
18. Var. VII – [Allegro] – Adagio – Allegro (2.36)

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
6 Variations on an original theme in F Op.34
19. Tema: Adagio. Cantabile (1.39)
20. Var. I (1.53)
21. Var. II: Allegro, ma non troppo (1.08)
22 Var. III: Allegretto (1.14)
23. Var. IV: Tempo di Menuetto (1.50)
24. Var. V: Marcia. Allegretto (2.22)
25. Var. VI – Allegretto – Adagio molto (5.06)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809–1847)
Variations sérieuses Op.54 MWV U 156
26. Theme: Andante sostenuto (0.45)
27. Var. I (0.34)
28. Var. II: Un poco più animato (0.32)
29. Var. III: Più animato (0.23)
30. Var. IV 0.23)
31. Var. V: Agitato (0.29)
32. Var. VI: A tempo (0.26)
33. Var. VII (0.26)
34. Var. VIII: Allegro vivace (0.20)
35. Var. IX 0.26)
36. Var. X: Moderato (0.48)
37. Var. XI (0.45)
38. Var. XII: Tempo di Tema (0.41)
39. Var. XIII (0.56)
40. Var. XIV: Adagio (1.18)
41. Var. XV: Poco a poco più agitato (0.30)
42. Var. XVI: Allegro vivace (0.21)
43. Var. XVII: [Allegro vivace] – Presto (2.57)

JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)
Variations in F sharp minor Op.9 on a theme by Robert Schumann
44. Tema: Ziemlich langsam (1.16)
45. Var. I (1.19)
46. Var. II: Poco più moto (0.29)
47. Var. III: Tempo di tema (1.11)
48. Var. IV: Poco più moto (0.44)
49. Var. V: Allegro capriccioso (0.53)
50. Var. VI: Allegro (0.56)
51. Var. VII: Andante (1.04)
52. Var. VIII: Andante (non troppo lento) (1.48)
53. Var. IX: Schnell (0.40)
54. Var. X: Poco adagio (2.41)
55. Var. XI: Un poco più animato (0.45)
56. Var. XII: Allegretto, poco scherzando (0.46)
57. Var. XIII: Non troppo presto (0.35)
58. Var. XIV: Andante (1.09)
59. Var. XV: Poco adagio (2.00)
60. Var. XVI: [Adagio] (2.53)

Sarah Beth Briggs’ collection of Variations underlines a lineage of the genre through the classical and romantic eras. Opening the programme is 9 Variations on a Minuet by Duport by Mozart, whom Beethoven greatly admired.

The work, which takes a theme by cellist Jean-Pierre Duport, chamber music director of the court of the Prussian King, Friedrich Wilhelm II, from whom the composer hoped to gain favor, opens on the delicate Tema and proceeds onward with a selection of sprightly, dominant, playful, intricate, ornate and seducing movements.

Next we get Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 7 Variations WoO 78 on ‘God Save the King,’ of which passionately opens on the known underscore to the national anthem within Tema, and then proceeds to bring us a gorgeous plethora of other variations, that I myself, have never had the pleasure to behold before.

Mendelssohn’s Variations sérieuses was written as a tribute to Beethoven, and was included in an album of works that raised funds for the now famous bronze statue of Beethoven in Bonn. Opening on the short, but sweet gossamer of Theme: Andante sostenuto, other selections are even shorter, some a little longer, but all bring forth an impassioned love for the diversity to hand.

Mendelssohn’s near contemporary Brahms paid tribute to his troubled friend Robert Schumann, using a melody from Bunte Blätter (“Colourful Leaves”) in his poignant Variations on a Theme by Schumann, on which it leads with the forthright, yet confidently-alluring Tema: Ziemlich langsam, before coming to a close on a most gentle, serenely placid Variation XVI. [Adagio].

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