This piece, a theme and set of variations by Richard Strauss was completed in 1878 and revised in 1879. This revision was done at the request of his father, Franz Strauss, who found the piece to be quite difficult; however, there is speculation as to whether or not a revised version was ever completed.1 Revision or not, the piece remains quite difficult. It begins with piano alone; the horn enters with the statement of the theme. From this point on, there is little rest for the horn player. This composition requires stamina, flexibility, and flawless technique to execute the large leaps and fast scalar- and arpeggiated passages. The piece, while difficult to perform, sounds easy and effortless when executed perfectly.
| Composer | Strauss, Richard |
| Dates | (1864-1949) |
| Duration | 11:00 |
| Horn Range | Eb3 to Bb5 |
| Level | Intermediate-Advanced |
| Clef | Treble Clef |
| Techniques | Lip Trill |
| Era/Style | Romantic |
| Country/Region | Germany |
| Accompaniment Available | Piano |
| Accompaniment Difficulty | Moderate |
| Movements | Duration | Level | Range |
| I. Introduction | 0:52 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to Bb5 |
| II. Thema | 2:02 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to Ab5 |
| III. Variation I | 1:00 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to C6 |
| IV. Variation II | 1:00 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to Bb5 |
| V. Variation III | 1:35 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to Bb5 |
| VI. Variation IV | 3:00 | Intermediate-Advanced | Eb3 to C6 |
| VII. Variation V | 1:43 | Intermediate-Advanced | Bb3 to Bb5 |
1 Richard Strauss, Introduktion, Thema un Variationen, Stephan Kohler, ed. (Mainz, Germany: Schott Music GmbH & Co., 1995).
