Thiemo WindChain Variations in van Eyck's Der Fluyten Lust-hof [abstract] The American Recorder, XXVIII, 4 (1987), 141-144 Many
of the tunes chosen by Jacob van Eyck have one or more repeated strains
or phrases. What is A-A in the theme (A representing a phrase or strain),
usually becomes A'-A' in Modo 2, A"-A" in Modo 3, etc. Van Eyck invented
a variant of this principle, for which we introduce the term 'chain
variations'. Modo 2 begins with A, followed by A'; Modo 3 begins with
A', followed by A"; etc. Thus, a chain is created: This means that musical material had to be printed twice. In several pieces, we become aware of small differences between strains or phrases that were undoubtedly meant to be identical. A comparison can be used to discover van Eyck's intentions and make corrections in his work. Every 'normal' set of variations can easily be transformed into a 'chained' version, and vice versa. Van Eyck gave a demonstration himself: 'Tweede Lavignone' [nve 58] is a chain version of the first 'Lavignone' [nve 9]. The composer must have invented the chain principle in order to bring more variation within his variations. He often shows himself creative in the way he mixes 'normal’ variations with the chain principle. In melodies with the form schedule AABB, he sometimes begins the chain process for A in a different variation from the one for B. In 'Ballette Gravesand' [nve 27], for example, Modo 1 is AABB, Modo 2 A'A'BB', and Modo 3 A'A"B'B". Van Eyck used the principle in 17 compositions:
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