44, by Ludwig van Beethoven, is a series of fourteen variations on a theme, written for piano, violin and cello.
[citation needed] Following common practice at the time, in this work Beethoven incorporated variations on popular themes from opera, notably from Das rote Käppchen (literally translated as The Red Cap), a Singspiel by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, which had its premiere in Vienna in 1788.
Beethoven took one of the most popular pieces of this opera, a small segment of melody of Ja, ich muss mich von ihr scheiden[1] (Yes, I must leave her), as the starting point for this trio.
This line is from an aria sung by the village mayor Hans Christoph Nitsche, who is announces that he must leave his wife.
[4][5] Beethoven then develops fourteen variations, decorative in the tradition of the eighteenth century but with contrasting spirit and textures employed.