Brahms composed the Haydn Variations during a summer retreat in 1873.
The theme for the variations came into Brahms’ hands via his fascination with music manuscripts. In 1870, C.F. Pohl, Haydn biographer and librarian of the Vienna Philharmonic Society, showed the “Chorale St. Antoni” to Brahms, who copied it.
The work premiered in its duo piano version on February 10, 1874 and was Brahms’ last large-scale piano work. He would focus increasingly on the orchestra for the remaining 23 years of his life.
Here is the music, in the orchestral version:
