Variations on a Theme of Chopin (Rachmaninoff)
Not to be confused with works of the same title by Federico Mompou, Ferruccio Busoni, or Roger Smalley.
Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22, is a group of 22 variations on Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor, composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1902–03. In the first edition, it is noted that 3 of the variations and the final Presto section can be omitted if the performer wishes.
Variations
The form of the piece is:| Variation | Tempo marking | Key | Description | Score |
| I | Moderato | C minor | 8 bars | |
| II | Allegro | C minor | 8 bars | |
| III | 132 bpm | C minor | 8 bars | |
| IV | 132 bpm | C minor | 24 bars of | |
| V | Meno mosso | C minor | 8 bars | |
| VI | Meno mosso | C minor | 8 bars 12 bars of | |
| VII | Allegro | C minor | 8 bars *This variation may be omitted | |
| VIII | 120 bpm | C minor | 8 bars | |
| IX | 120 bpm | C minor | 8 bars | |
| X | Piú vivo | C minor | 14 bars *This variation may be omitted | |
| XI | Lento | E♭ major | 14 bars of | |
| XII | Moderato | C minor | 32 bars *This variation may be omitted | |
| XIII | Largo | C minor | 16 bars | |
| XIV | Moderato | C minor | 24 bars of then one bar of | |
| XV | Allegro scherzando | F minor | 45 bars of in F minor | |
| XVI | Lento | F minor | 14 bars in F minor | |
| XVII | Grave | B minor | 18 bars of in B minor | |
| XVIII | Piú mosso | B minor | 12 bars in B minor | |
| XIX | Allegro vivace | A major | 35 bars in A major | |
| XX | Presto | C minor | 108 bars of in A major and C minor | |
| XXI | Andante - Più vivo | D major C major | 24 bars in D major followed by 29 bars of in C major marked Più vivo | |
| XXII | Maestoso | C major | 82 bars of in C major. Then 12 bars marked Meno mosso. Finally, 19 bars marked Presto |