Variations on a Theme by Haydn

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The Variations on a Theme by Haydn op. 56a are a variation work for orchestra by Johannes Brahms . The work was created in Tutzing in the summer of 1873 . The first performance took place on November 2, 1873 in Vienna under Brahms' direction. Brahms also wrote a version for two pianos (op.56b). The piano version was also premiered in Vienna on February 10, 1874.

About the work

Orchestral works Romantic themes.pdf

In 1870 Brahms came across six field games or divertimenti , which were probably wrongly ascribed to Joseph Haydn . Brahms based his Variations on the second movement from the sixth Divertimento in B flat major for 2 oboes, 3 bassoons and serpent, 2 horns ( Hob. II: 46). This sentence is entitled “Chorale St. Antoni”. A special feature of the first part of the chorale, in which the theme is introduced, is that it consists of two five-bar periods that are repeated in almost all eight variations.

The chorale may not have come from the composer of the divertimento. Eduard Hanslick assumed that the chorale was originally a pilgrimage song. In addition, it is believed that the chorale could have been sung by penitents in honor of St. Anthony of Padua on his feast day when they made a pilgrimage from their villages in western Hungary (today Burgenland ) to a certain St. Anthony chapel, where they from The Brothers of Mercy were expected.

The line-up consists of a piccolo , two flutes , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , contrabassoon , four horns , two trumpets , timpani , triangle and strings.

The carefully elaborated finale deserves special emphasis, in which a five-bar basso ostinato derived from the theme is repeated throughout and modified in a minor opacity, before the opening theme appears again as the grand finale . At this point the otherwise rather reserved Brahms allows himself to use a triangle.

Sentence names

  1. Theme. Chorale St. Antoni. Andante
  2. Variation I. Poco più animato
  3. Variation II. Più vivace
  4. Variation III. Con moto
  5. Variation IV. Andante con moto
  6. Variation V. Vivace
  7. Variation VI. Vivace
  8. Variation VII. Grazioso
  9. Variation VIII. Presto non troppo
  10. Final. Andante

literature

  • Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Haydn , foreword by Deryck Cooke . Eulenburg, London
  • Donald M. McCorcle (Ed.): Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897. Variations on a theme of Haydn , New York 1976
  • Renate Ulm : Johannes Brahms, The symphonic work. Bärenreiter, ISBN 3-7618-2111-5 .

Web links