Variations in C major, Hob.XVII:5 (Haydn, Joseph)

Occasionally called "6 Variations Faciles," or "Six Easy Variations," I haven't seen this piece used as a textbook in Korea, but it seems that in Europe it is still quite popular for beginners. It’s similar to Clementi’s Sonatinas. The difficulty level is not at the beginner level of the Beyer, but roughly at an intermediate beginner level—just before intermediate. Therefore, this piece provides students with their first proper experience of the form of a true piano variation. In Korea, we usually encounter the charm of the very first variation in pieces like "Sonata No. 1," "Eunpa," or Mozart’s "Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," but this piece is technically simpler than those. The score is easy to read, and since most of the variations involve only changes in the right-hand figuration, there is little technical difficulty, clearly indicating its purpose as beginner material.

Below is a brief commentary from the Vienna original edition:

6 Easy Variations, Hob. XVII/5:
This piece, also published by Ataria Publishing for amateur performers, was composed just before Haydn's first trip to London. It is based on a major key theme, with six variations arranged in a typical form. The fifth variation is in a minor key, which allows the last variation to preserve the character of the final movement without lengthening the piece. Therefore, there’s no need to repeat the theme at the end. (PD Hyung-wook’s interpretation: What this means is that, up until the early Classical period, it was customary in variations to repeat the main theme at the very end—similar to the Goldbergs… even if it wasn’t explicitly marked in the score.) A notable feature of this piece is the extremely high register and the ornamental treatment throughout. Comparing corresponding measures reveals how Haydn skillfully employs various registers, creating lively and expressive variations.