This was Brahms’ first ambitious work exclusively for a symphony orchestra. It was first performed in 1873 in Vienna with Brahms conducting. For the variations Brahms appropriated ‘Chorale Sancti Antoni’ utilised in Haydn’s Divertimento for Wind Band. This arrangement includes the theme, three of the original eight variations and the finale. The theme at the beginning is voiced primarily in the winds which is very close to Haydn’s scoring. The three variations follow the theme harmonically. Variation 1, poco piu animato and Variation 2, legato con moto are fluent, graceful and delicate. Variation 3 is contrasting in style with exciting rhythms and accentuation. The finale begins with a passacaglia based on a five-bar phrase repeated seven times which is followed by the original theme in a dramatic climax.
