Emperor Variations
This very well known melody was originally written by Haydn (to words by Lorenz Haschka) for a birthday celebration for Emperor Francis II. This set of variations was composed shortly after for his string quartet Op. 76, No. 3, now referred to as the “Emperor” Quartet. Haydn intended to write music to rival Britain’s ‘God Save the King’ and his music now serves (with different words than the original) as Germany’s National Anthem. It has been used in works by Paganini, Tchaikovsky, Czerny, and Rossini. The melody appears in Hymns and University Alma maters. This music was the last thing Haydn played before he died, a testament to the composer’s fondness for his very stirring creation.
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