“Eroica Variations” is a masterpiece of Beethoven’s piano variation works. Actually, the main theme of “Eroica Variations” is borrowed from the finale of “Die Geschopfe des Prometheus”, which is also composed by Beethoven in 1801. During 1801 to 1803, Beethoven used the so- called “Prometheus theme” in four different works including the finale of “Die Geschopfe des Prometheus”, “Contredanse No.7”, “Eroica Variations” and the fourth movement of “Eroica Symphony”.

This thesis is a study of interpretation of “Eroica Variations”. In Chapter One and Chapter Two, there are some discussions about the compositional background of “Eroica Variations” and the character of its main theme. In Chapter Three, the author analyzed and compared the writing methods of “Eroica Variations” and the fourth movement of “Eroica Symphony” to find out the similarities and differences between them. At last, the author took the results of structural analysis into performance practice, trying to show how to play “Eroica Variations” with symphonic idea. Thus, this thesis may provide as a reference to give some thoughts about the interpretation of “Eroica Variations”, in order to get closer to the composer’s original intention and its definite style.

§Yu-Min Chung Graduation Piano Recital Program§

J.S.Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903

W.A.Mozart Piano Sonata No.12 in F major, K.332

M.Ravel Sonatine

F.Chopin Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor, Op.58