Editing Diabelli Variations (section)

===Variation 20: ''Andante''===
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An extraordinarily slow-moving variation consisting almost entirely of dotted half notes in low registers – a striking contrast with the variations immediately before and after. Diabelli's melody is easily identified, but the harmonic progressions (see bars 9–12) are unusual and the overall tonality is ambiguous. Suggesting the title "Oracle", von Bülow recommends "an effect suggestive of the veiled organ-registers". Kinderman writes, "In this great enigmatic slow variation, No. 20, we have reached the still centre of the work ... the citadel of 'inner peace'".<ref>{{Harvnb|Kinderman|1987|pp=102–03}}</ref> Tovey calls it "one of the most awe-inspiring passages in music".<ref name="Tovey, Donald Francis p. 129"/> Brendel describes this Variation 20 as "hypnotic introspection" and offers as a title ''Inner sanctum''. Liszt called it ''Sphinx''. Diabelli's two-part structure is maintained, but without repeats.

::[[File:Diabelli Var20 full.jpg]]