Titled "Hexaméron" (meaning "six poems" in Greek), this set of variations was collaboratively composed by six composers in 1837 for a charity concert for Italian immigrants residing in France, a project initiated by Princess Cristina Belgiojoso-Trivulzio. The six composers involved in this work are Liszt, Thalberg, Pixis, Herz, Czerny, and Chopin. The theme of this variation set is a march from Bellini's opera I puritani. While Liszt oversaw the entire work, Chopin was responsible for the sixth variation.

It is noteworthy that, unlike the variations by the other composers, this sixth variation by Chopin is written in Largo, 4/4 time. It possesses the character of a nocturne, with the melody played by the right hand accompanied by chords in the left hand.