Carl Nielsen (1865–1937), a leading Danish composer, is known for a style believed to have been influenced by Beethoven and Brahms. This Chaconne is a mature work composed by Nielsen in 1916, when he was 51 years old. It was composed amidst the backdrop of World War I.

Nielsen, who undertook a work with variations for the first time with this piece, primarily employs 8-bar phrases in 3/4 time without deviating from the norm, and the Chaconne's theme is first presented alone in the bass. However, among the 19 variations, only the 4th variation features a 9-bar phrase. Furthermore, bitonality is explored in the 16th and 17th variations, which are notated on three staves. The 19th variation, which concludes this Chaconne, is the largest in scale and also serves as a coda.