Originally for keyboard, this is a theme and seven variations with a texture much like that of the lute music of the time. It is a long piece (five pages), but not too difficult if the tempos are kept within the player's ability. At higher speeds it can be a virtuosic showpiece. Each variation's tempo and mood are different, unusually so for this era. The MIDI sound file of the Aria will get you started in discovering these differences. [5 pages, 184KB]