Editing Diabelli Variations (section)

== Title ==
The title Beethoven gave to the work has received some comment. His first reference was in his correspondence, where he called it ''Große Veränderungen über einen bekannten Deutschen Tanz'' ("Grand Variations on a well-known German dance"). Upon first publication, however, the title referred explicitly to a waltz by Diabelli: ''33 Veränderungen über einen Walzer von Diabelli''.

Beethoven chose the German word ''Veränderungen'' rather than the usual Italian-derived ''Variationen'', in a period when he preferred using the German language in expression marks and titles, such as ''Hammerklavier''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kinderman|1987|pp=19–20}}</ref> Yet, apart from the title, we find only traditional Italian musical terms within the work, suggesting that Beethoven was probably trying to make a point in his use of ''Veränderungen''. Since ''Veränderungen'' can mean not only "variations" but also "transformations", it is sometimes suggested that Beethoven was announcing that this work does something more profound than had hitherto been done in variation form.