33 Variations on a waltz by Anton Diabelli for piano (C major) op. 120
Listening samples
Dedication
Composition
1819 to March-April 1823
The Diabelli Variations is Beethoven's last major piano piece and his most extensive set of variations. He started work on it in 1819 but interrupted it for the Missa solemnis and his last three piano sonatas, only resuming work in early 1823.
The waltz theme was written by publisher and composer Anton Diabelli. Beethoven derogatively called it a 'Schusterfleck' (cobbler's patch), meaning a simple pattern that was easy to sequence. On the other hand, its simplicity offered more scope for variation, which finally proved an advantage. One year after publishing Beethoven's 33 Variations as a separate piece, Diabelli issued a collection of 50 variations on the same waltz in early June 1824. For the new collection, ordered alphabetically by name, Diabelli asked 50 Austrian composers, particularly from Vienna, to contribute to the collection. Among them were Czerny, Schubert, Liszt, Hummel and Beethoven's patron Archduke Rudolph. On the title page he called the authors a 'National Artists' Association'. Beethoven was quite enraged about this publication, feeling that it lessened the value of his own piece.
In early May 1823 Beethoven asked his former student Ferdinand Ries to find an English publisher for op. 120. However, it was not until July that he sent Ries an engraver's copy. A planned English edition of op. 120 by T. Boosey & Co. never materialized. The copy arrived in London too late as the piece had already appeared in Vienna and an English edition made no sense from a commercial standpoint. (J.R.)
The waltz theme was written by publisher and composer Anton Diabelli. Beethoven derogatively called it a 'Schusterfleck' (cobbler's patch), meaning a simple pattern that was easy to sequence. On the other hand, its simplicity offered more scope for variation, which finally proved an advantage. One year after publishing Beethoven's 33 Variations as a separate piece, Diabelli issued a collection of 50 variations on the same waltz in early June 1824. For the new collection, ordered alphabetically by name, Diabelli asked 50 Austrian composers, particularly from Vienna, to contribute to the collection. Among them were Czerny, Schubert, Liszt, Hummel and Beethoven's patron Archduke Rudolph. On the title page he called the authors a 'National Artists' Association'. Beethoven was quite enraged about this publication, feeling that it lessened the value of his own piece.
In early May 1823 Beethoven asked his former student Ferdinand Ries to find an English publisher for op. 120. However, it was not until July that he sent Ries an engraver's copy. A planned English edition of op. 120 by T. Boosey & Co. never materialized. The copy arrived in London too late as the piece had already appeared in Vienna and an English edition made no sense from a commercial standpoint. (J.R.)
