Variants on a Mediaeval Tune is a dynamic orchestral work based on the medieval chant In dulci jubilo. This chant’s melody is one that has been the subject for a variety of musical works. Norman Dello Joio was inspired by it to compose a set of variations. They consist of a brief introduction, the theme, and five “variations” which send the mediaeval melody through five true metamorphoses, strongly contrasting in tempo and character, and utilizing the possibilities of the band to the highest degree. 

This piece was commissioned by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation for the Duke University Band in April of 1963.

Program note provided by the composer

Norman Dello Joio (1913–2008), an American composer known for his lyrical and accessible neoclassical style. Dello Joio was influenced by Gregorian chant and Renaissance music, which he blended with modern harmonies and rhythms. He composed in a variety of genres, including choral, orchestral, and piano music, and was especially known for his contributions to American liturgical and choral music.

A student of Paul Hindemith, Dello Joio won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1957 for Meditations on Ecclesiastes. He also composed for ballet and television, with his work often characterized by its warmth and expressive melodies.

Composer biography researched and written by Elisabeth Jackson