Anton Stepanovich Arensky (1861-1906) wrote VARIATIONS ON A THEME OF TCHAIKOVSKY, Op. 35a in 1894, a year after Tchaikovsky's death, as a tribute to the master composer who most influenced his own musical compositions. Arranged for string orchestra from the slow movement of Arensky's STRING QUARTET NO. 2, Op. 35, with a theme borrowed from Tchaikovsky's "Legend" (No. 5) of the 16 SONGS FOR CHILDREN, Op. 54, this 15-minute long work remains among Arensky's most popular.