十九世紀的歐洲，受到浪漫主義的影響，在藝術的領域中面臨重大的改變。在音樂方面，越來越多的作曲家開始藉由聲響之美來傳遞內在真情，使作品裡充滿著許多不同的元素及變化。但在作曲家們過度主觀意識下創作的結果，卻也令樂曲漸漸地失去了音樂的樸實與純粹。而在此時，布拉姆斯捨棄了十九紀的主流風潮，拒絕使用浮誇華美的手段，在美學觀點與音樂創作上，以巴哈、貝多芬及舒曼為其典範，忠實地創作屬於古典形式、絕對、內省、並且深刻真摯的作品。
布拉姆斯在一八七三年所創作的《海頓主題變奏曲》，不僅是其生涯裡大型鋼琴曲與管絃樂作品分水嶺的代表作，也可在曲中窺見布拉姆斯慣用的創作手法與成熟的變奏技巧。作品五十六b的雙鋼琴版本，更是布拉姆斯在雙鋼琴領域中最重要作品，曲中隨處可見布拉姆斯運用雙鋼琴的優勢，支配多聲部線條的成熟度。這也讓布拉姆斯雙鋼琴作品的藝術價值達到音樂史上的最高峰，並開創屬於自己的黃金年代。
本文第一章簡述變奏曲的定義與種類，並針對十九世紀變奏曲在歷史上的特殊性來作闡述。第二章為布拉姆斯生平簡介及其變奏作品概述。第三章將《海頓主題變奏曲》依寫作技巧、作品特色與變奏手法作一系列深入的探討。第四章則是關於雙鋼琴歷史與雙鋼琴演奏方面的建議。

The European arts in the nineteenth century went through significant changes with the advent of romanticism. In respect to music, more and more composers at that time set out to express their emotions through the beauty of sounds and rhythms, imbuing their works with multiple elements and alterations. However, the overemphasis on the subjective experience of the composers led to the gradual loss of simplicity and purity in their music. At that time, Brahms abondoned the artistic trend of the epoch and refused its pompous and exaggerated style. Devotedly following Bach, Beethoven and Schuman in their aesthetic perspectives and musical creations, Brahms composed absolute, introspective, sincere and in-depth works in the classical form.
Variations on a Theme by Haydn, op. 56 composed by Brahms in 1873, was the representative piece marking his shift from large piano works to orchestra works, exhibiting the master’s habitual use of composition skills and mature variation techniques. The two pianos version (op. 56b), as Brahms’ most important work of its kind, illustrated how he took advantage of the strength of two pianos to arrange multiple voices with expertise. This piano piece pushed the artistic value of Brahms’ two pianos works to its peak in the musical history and launched their golden age.
Chapter One of this thesis gives the definition of variations, introduces its types and discusses the historical specificity of the variations of the nineteenth century. Chapter Two introduces the life of Brahms and his variations. Chapter Three probes into the composing skills, variation techniques and features illustrated in Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn, op56b. Chapter Four examines the history of two pianos and gives suggestions on the performing of two pianos works.

前言--------------------------------------- 1

第一章 變奏曲概述
第一節 變奏曲定義及類型------------------------- 2
第二節 十九世紀的變奏曲-------------------------- 4

第二章 布拉姆斯音樂風格
第一節 時代背景----------------------------- 9
第二節 布拉姆斯的變奏曲------------------------11

第三章 《海頓主題變奏曲》
第一節 《海頓主題變奏曲》創作過程----------------------15
第二節 《海頓主題變奏曲》寫作技巧----------------------18
第三節 《海頓主題變奏曲》作品特色----------------------25
第四節 《海頓主題變奏曲》變奏手法----------------------32

第四章 雙鋼琴探究
第一節 雙鋼琴的發展----------------------------35
第二節 演奏雙鋼琴的注意事項------------------------43

結語 ---------------------------------------55

參考書目 -------------------------------------57

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