Variations on Gernikako Arbola

For piano solo. Gernikako Arbola is a very popular hymn of the Basque country. The song is held in high regard by the Basque people, and some even consider it the Basque National Anthem. The title means "The Tree of Gernika," and it extols the virtues of this symbolic and meaningful icon, which has a centuries-old history, including as a meeting place for the Basque government, and the miraculous survival from Hitler's bombers in 1937. The theme is presented in its original meter and harmonization, and is followed by six stylistic variations. Duration: 12'. Score, 12 p.