What’s in a name? Let's hear . . . 

This is a musical cryptogram, a musical piece is based on the letters of a composer's name. Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the first to create a version in his 'Art of the Fugue'. 

Definitely fun to do, this composition is based on the letters of my name:   K-E-N-N-E-T-H   R   L-I-N-D-N-E-R -Jr.  

It is a “theme and variations” piece.  The theme is stated at the beginning, followed by many variations based on the theme, but not necessarily restating it in expected ways. The fun is to try to use as many different forms of the theme as reasonably possible, while maintaining listening interest and enjoyment.

This piece uses a standard symphony orchestra, slightly scaled down. It introduces the theme, followed by 15 variations, the last one a fugue. It ends with a grand restatement of the original theme in the opening key signature of C major, doubled in metric length.

Explanation & History: 
A composer’s name may contain many letters not directly corresponding to musical notes, so a transcription scheme may be used. For the letters in “Kenneth” and "R", the musical note E was used as the center datum. Then the number of letters in the alphabet from E to the nonmusical named letters were counted. This number was then used to count the number of steps on a musical grand staff from middle E, (both up and down), to find the musical notes to use. “Lindner” and “Jr” used D as its center datum. Easy for me to say, I know, but if you're still with me, that's how it worked out.

An old tradition, after an early example was composed by J.S. Bach (B-A-C-H, final theme of his Art of the Fugue), it was followed by other composers such as Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms (the C-L-A-R-A theme), Edvard Grieg (the G-A-D-E theme, the name of one of his favorite composers, Neils Gade), Dimitri Shostakovich (D-S-C-H-D, E-flat, C, B-natural), Alban Berg (A-B) and Arnold Schoenberg (A-S-C-H-B-E-G) among others.

Variations on KRLjr

Graduating from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, I majored in Music Education and bass trombone. I was also fortunate to have the renowned John W. Coffey, bass trombonist of the Boston Symphony, as an adjunct teacher. 
While keeping my day jobs, I've performed professionally in symphony orchestras, bands and brass groups, and also enjoyed playing tuba and euphonium. 
I am a self-taught composer with 130+ copyrighted original pieces and arrangements, from symphony orchestra and concert band, as well as brass groups and solo works.
Retiring from the corporate world, (computer reliability and QA for medical devices), my wife Kathy and I were privileged to raise 100% grass fed bison for 20 years, and sell to wonderful customers in Southern California farmers markets. After retiring a 2nd time before the pandemic, I've happily returned to my first love of music!
Thanks for listening. I hope you will let me know how you enjoy these pieces!

Variations on KRLjr

Ken Lindner