Variations on a Theme by Haydn
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
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
- Theme. Chorale St. Antoni. Andante
- Variation I. Poco più animato
- Variation II. Più vivace
- Variation III. Con moto
- Variation IV. Andante con moto
- Variation V. Vivace
- Variation VI. Vivace
- Variation VII. Grazioso
- Variation VIII. Presto non troppo
- 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
- Variations on a Theme by Haydn : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project