Dohnányi was one of a trilogy of fine Hungarian composers (the others are Bartók and Kodály) who emerged at about the same time. Unlike the other two, he never took a deep interest in the authentic national folk music or embraced a modernistic twentieth century idiom. He remained in a late-Romantic, post-Brahmsian mode, but composed a considerable amount of fine music in that style. Much of it has been overlooked because the dominant attitude of the twentieth century demanding unceasing "progress" in compositional techniques prompted snap judgments that such music as Dohnányi's was "reactionary." Even so, this piece retained a toe-hold in the repertoire because of its fine workmanship, high entertainment value, and attractive sound. Scored for piano and orchestra, it is nearly a full-fledged piano concerto in single-movement variation form. It is also a musical joke of the highest order. It begins with a lengthy and solemnly important-sounding introduction that could be from a Wagnerian drama. This mighty promise of weighty things to come halts with a drum stroke, at which point the piano enters playing, in the simplest way, the little tune known as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." The rest of the work is a set of variations on that tune, each one in a parody of a well-known musical style, including a delicious send-up of The Sorcerer's Apprentice. It ends with a joyous romp. It is similar in style to Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody, but concerned with humor rather than romance.

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