VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY HAYDN
Op. 56A
Johannes BRAHMS
transcr.: Nejc BEČAN
COMPOSED: 1873 (transcription: 2014)
DURATION: 18 min
GRADE: 4,5
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COMMENTARY:
The Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn, now also called the Saint Anthony Variations, is a work in the form of a theme and variations, composed by Johannes Brahms in the summer of 1873 at Tutzing in Bavaria. It consists of a theme in B-flat major based on a “Chorale St. Antoni”, eight variations and a finale. It is often said to be the first independent set of variations for orchestra in the history of music. Brahms composed the work on a theme entitled “Chorale St. Antoni” found in a wind ensemble composition. At the time Brahms discovered it, the wind ensemble piece carried an attribution to the composer Joseph Haydn. Brahms titled his own composition accordingly, crediting Haydn for the theme, but publishers in the early nineteenth century often attached the names of famous composers to works by unknown or lesser known composers in order to move inventory. Subsequent research has concluded that the wind piece Brahms used as a source does not fit Haydn’s style. Today the wind ensemble piece remains without clear attribution.
Op. 56A
Johannes BRAHMS
transcr.: Nejc BEČAN
COMPOSED: 1873 (transcription: 2014)
DURATION: 18 min
GRADE: 4,5
————————————————————
COMMENTARY:
The Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn, now also called the Saint Anthony Variations, is a work in the form of a theme and variations, composed by Johannes Brahms in the summer of 1873 at Tutzing in Bavaria. It consists of a theme in B-flat major based on a “Chorale St. Antoni”, eight variations and a finale. It is often said to be the first independent set of variations for orchestra in the history of music. Brahms composed the work on a theme entitled “Chorale St. Antoni” found in a wind ensemble composition. At the time Brahms discovered it, the wind ensemble piece carried an attribution to the composer Joseph Haydn. Brahms titled his own composition accordingly, crediting Haydn for the theme, but publishers in the early nineteenth century often attached the names of famous composers to works by unknown or lesser known composers in order to move inventory. Subsequent research has concluded that the wind piece Brahms used as a source does not fit Haydn’s style. Today the wind ensemble piece remains without clear attribution.
Op. 56A
Johannes BRAHMS
transcr.: Nejc BEČAN
COMPOSED: 1873 (transcription: 2014)
DURATION: 18 min
GRADE: 4,5
————————————————————
COMMENTARY:
The Variations on a theme by Joseph Haydn, now also called the Saint Anthony Variations, is a work in the form of a theme and variations, composed by Johannes Brahms in the summer of 1873 at Tutzing in Bavaria. It consists of a theme in B-flat major based on a “Chorale St. Antoni”, eight variations and a finale. It is often said to be the first independent set of variations for orchestra in the history of music. Brahms composed the work on a theme entitled “Chorale St. Antoni” found in a wind ensemble composition. At the time Brahms discovered it, the wind ensemble piece carried an attribution to the composer Joseph Haydn. Brahms titled his own composition accordingly, crediting Haydn for the theme, but publishers in the early nineteenth century often attached the names of famous composers to works by unknown or lesser known composers in order to move inventory. Subsequent research has concluded that the wind piece Brahms used as a source does not fit Haydn’s style. Today the wind ensemble piece remains without clear attribution.