The work consists of an eight-bar main theme and 32 variations. A chord progression in the left hand, based upon a descending chromatic bass, serves as an important structural device. The short and sparse melodic theme, as well as the emphasis on the bass line, reflect a possible influence of the chaconne[citation needed] and the Folia. The variations differ in character, technical difficulty and dynamics.

Date of composition 1806
Type Variations
Tonality C Minor
Catalogue WoO 80
Approx. duration 11 minutes
Instruments Piano
Autotranslations beta Ludwig van Beethoven: Thirty-two variations in C minor on an original theme en do mineur, WoO 80
Ludwig van Beethoven: Thirty-two variations in C minor on an original theme in do minore, WoO 80
Ludwig van Beethoven: Thirty-two variations in C minor on an original theme c-moll, WoO 80