This set of theme and variations by Sor was first published in Paris by the publisher Salvador Castro de Gistau in his Journal de Musique Étrangère in about 1804-1810. Another French edition of this work appeared in Paris in about 1816, put out by the publisher Meissonnier, with a minuet added. In Castro the work has the title Air Varié, and in Meissonnier Thema Varié. There are interesting differences between the two editions, and it may well be that Castro’s edition preserves more of the flavour of the piece as it was originally composed in Spain, especially in its more florid ornamentation.
Because of the considerable differences between the two editions we have given both versions here: the first version is Castro’s, and the second Meissonnier’s. It should be noted that it is not known whether Sor had anything to do with Meissonnier’s version; indeed, there is no particular reason to think that he did. It is more than possible that it was not Sor but Meissonnier or another person who prepared the version which is given in second place here.
No opus number was given by Castro, nor doubtless originally by Meissonnier; the opus number 3 does not appear on the first issue of Meissonnier but only on later Meissonnier issues. Castro’s edition of this work doubtless derives from a Spanish source.
The work was later adapted to become Sor’s op. 12, dedicated to the pianist Kalkbrenner.
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