The Heidelberg Variations by Stijn Kuppens

The Heidelberg Variations for cello solo, composed by Stijn Kuppens, is a tribute to ’printing art’, with references to one of its icons ’the Heidelberg press’. Imagine one day in a printing company, starting in the morning when starting up all the machines, and finishing in the evening, when deadlines need to be met. At the same time there is a theme with variations, which explains the title ’The Heidelberg Variations’, obviously referring to Bach’s ’The Goldberg Variations’. The musical theme represents a Heidelberg printing press. Every variation of the theme becomes more complex and modern, alike the actual press did throughout history. The rhythmic grooves are based upon the repetitive sound of a printing press. Video footage of Heidelberg presses by kind permission of Jules Bobach and the Industriemuseum of Ghent.