Variation form in music and musical analysis of Sergey Rachmaninoff's Op.42 "Variations on a Theme by Corelli̇"

This study is a musical analysis of S. Rachmaninov's work of variations on a theme of Corelli Op.42. In the first part of the thesis, Rachmaninoff's life, piano works, style were presented with examples. In the second part, the concept of variation and the ways it followed in different periods and composers who wrote variations are mentioned. In the third chapter, the musical analysis of variations on the form of variation in Rachmaninov's creativity and a theme of Corelli were made. The characteristics of musical elements such as form and harmonic language,musical texture, and tonal-modal structure were examined in line with the analysis of twenty variations in Rachmaninov's Op.42 'Variations on a Theme of Corelli' for piano. For the piano in the study, the features of the form and musical elements of Sergey Rachmaninov's Op.42 'Variations on a Theme of Corelli' were analyzed, and the literatüre review method was used during this analysis. It is aimed that the works that S. Rachmaninoff brought to the history of music as a composer and pianist, and most importantly, the variations, contribute to the periodical and interpritive development and this analysis will guide many musicians. Keywords: Variation types, Op. 42. Variations on a theme of Corelli, Piano, Rachmaninoff, Analysis.