Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn

The "Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn", consisting of a theme in B-flat major, eight variations and a finale, was composed in the summer of 1873 by Johannes Brahms.

It was published in two versions: for two pianos, written first but designated Op. 56b; and the same piece for orchestra, referred to as Op. 56a.

The latter is considered to be "the first set of independent variations for orchestra in the history of music" [McCorkle, Donald M., p. 5 in the Norton Scores edition of the Variations (ISBN 0-393-09206-2)] . It is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns (2 in E flat, 2 in B flat), 2 trumpets, timpani, triangle, and the normal string section of first and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses. The first performance of the orchestral version was given on 2 November 1873 by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Brahms's baton.

The piece usually takes about 18 minutes to perform.

Origin of the theme

Despite the title of the work, there has been much debate since about 1950 over whether the theme is actually by Haydn [A detailed survey of the controversy can be found in Douglas Yeo's 2004 edition of the "Haydn" piece (ISMN M-57015-175-1).] . In 1870, Brahms's friend Carl Ferdinand Pohl, the librarian of the Vienna Philharmonic Society, who was working on a Haydn biography at the time, showed Brahms a transcription he had made of a piece attributed to Haydn titled "Divertimento No. 1". The second movement bore the heading "St. Anthony Chorale".

While current usage still prefers the original title, "Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale" is the name favored by those who object to possibly perpetuating a misattribution. Even that name, however, tells us very little. To date, no other mention of the so-called "St. Anthony Chorale" has been found. Some sources state the Divertimento was probably written by Ignaz Pleyel, but this has not been definitely established. Even so, a further question is whether the composer of the Divertimento actually wrote the "St. Anthony Chorale" or simply quoted an older theme taken from an unknown source.

Form

The theme begins with a repeated ten-measure passage which itself consists of two intriguing five-measure phrases, a quirk that is likely to have caught Brahms's attention. Almost without exception, the eight variations follow the phrasal structure of the theme and, though less strictly, the harmonic structure as well. Each has a distinctive character, several calling to mind the forms and techniques of earlier eras, with some displaying a mastery of counterpoint seldom encountered in Romantic music.The finale is a magnificent passacaglia, itself a theme and variations on a ground bass, five measures in length, derived from the principal theme. Its culmination, a restatement of the chorale, is a moment of such transcendence that the usually austere Brahms permits himself the use of a triangle.

Just before the end of the piece, in the coda of the finale, Brahms quotes a passage that really is by Haydn. In mm. 463-464, the violas and cellos echo the cello line from m. 148 of the second movement of the latter's "Clock" Symphony, one of the finest examples of Haydn's pioneering work in the symphonic variation form. The reader may compare the two passages by following these links: [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bfk3333/sco10067.gifBrahms] , [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bgn9295/sco10040.gifHaydn] (see below for link credits). Ironically, this fragmentary allusion may be the music's sole remaining link to Haydn.

Movements

The movements are named and tempo markings given as follows. Where the tempo markings of the two versions differ, the one for Op. 56b is shown in parentheses.
# Thema. Chorale St. Antoni. Andante
# Variation I. Poco più animato (Andante con moto)
# Variation II. Più vivace (Vivace)
# Variation III. Con moto
# Variation IV. Andante con moto (Andante)
# Variation V. Vivace (Poco presto)
# Variation VI. Vivace
# Variation VII. Grazioso
# Variation VIII. Presto non troppo (Poco presto)
# Finale. Andante

Media

This is a performance of the version for two pianos. The pianists are Neal and Nancy O'Doan. multi-listen item|filename=Johannes Brahms - Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn - Variation 7.ogg|title=Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, variation 7

Notes

External links

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* The [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/bfk3333/index.html score] of Brahms's Variations has been posted by the [http://www.music.indiana.edu/muslib.html William and Gayle Cook Music Library] at the [http://www.music.indiana.edu/ Indiana University School of Music] . The same library is the source of the Haydn link included in the comparison above.