Variations (Andrew Lloyd Webber album)

Untitled

Variations is a Classical/Rock fusion album by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Julian Lloyd Webber were always very close, but their two different careers (a rock musical composer and a classical cellist) meant that a collaboration seemed unlikely. It wasn't until Julian beat his brother in a bet on a Leyton Orient football match that Andrew was forced to write his cello work.

As his subject, Andrew chose the theme of Paganini's 24th caprice and added 23 variations for cello and rock band. The work premiered at the 1977 Sydmonton Festival with rock band Colosseum II, featuring Gary Moore, being joined by Barbara Thompson (Sax, Flute), Rod Argent, (Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards) and Julian Lloyd Webber (Cello). It was subsequently rearranged and recorded in 1978. It reached number 2 in the album charts.

Adaptions

The work was used in Song and Dance and David Cullen made an arrangement of the work for cello and orchestra. The opening and closing variations have been rewritten for cello and piano, the latter of which Julian often uses as an encore, due to its amusing glissando down to Bottom A (forcing a mid piece retune) to conclude.

The opening theme is used as the theme to The South Bank Show and Variation 5 became Unexpected Song with lyrics by Don Black. Variation 18 is an instrumental version of the title song from the first Rice/Webber musical The Likes of Us.

Track listing

1. Introduction
2. Theme (Paganini Caprice in A minor No. 24) and Variations 1-4
3. Variations 5 and 6
4. Variation 7
5. Variation 8
6. Variation 9
7. Variation 10
8. Variations 11-15 (including the Tributes)
9. Variation 16
10. Variations 13-14 Varied (listed as 14-15)
11. Variation 17
12. Variation 18
13. Variations 19, 20 and 5 Varied (listed as 6)
14. Variations 21 and 22
15. Variation 23

Performers

Original Rock Version

• Don Airey - Grand Piano, ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, Solina String Ensemble, Fender Rhodes Piano
• Rod Argent - Grand Piano, Minimog, Roland RS-202, Yamaha CS-80
• Gary Moore - Gibson Les Paul, Rickenbacker electric 12 string Guitar, Guild acoustic, Fender Stratocaster
• Barbara Thompson - Flute, Alto Flute, Alto & Tenor Saxophone
• Jon Hiseman - Arbiter Auto-Tune drums, Paiste cymbals & gongs, Percussion
• John Mole - Fender Precision Bass, Hayman fretless bass guitar
• Julian Lloyd Webber - cello
• Additional Performers: Dave Caddick, Phil Collins, Herbie Flowers, Bill Le Sage, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Orchestral Version

• Julian Lloyd Webber (cello).
• Lorin Maazel (conductor)
• London Philharmonic Orchestra.

See also

• Caprice No. 24 (Paganini)
• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini