Fantasy Variations (on George Gershwin's Prelude II for Piano)

Gershwin's Prelude II for piano is the second in a set of three preludes composed in 1936. In Donald Grantham's uniquely original composition, Fantasy Variations, both of the "big" tunes in the piece are fully exploited, but they do not appear in recognizable form until near the end. The work begins with much more obscure fragments drawn from the introduction, accompanimental figures, transitions, cadences and so forth. These eventually give way to more familiar motives derived from the themes themselves. All of these elements are gradually assembled over the last half of the piece until the themes finally appear in more or less their original form.