This arrangement for piano four-hands is a re-arrangement by Beethoven of a version originally arranged by a third party (see Background of Composition). The background of the original work, Op. 133 itself, also involves somewhat peculiar circumstances, which are not unrelated to the publication of Op. 134; therefore, let us briefly touch upon the genesis of the original work. Op. 133 was initially conceived as the final movement of Beethoven's String Quartet Op. 130. However, due to the music's extreme complexity and the immense scale the entire work would assume if the 'Grosse Fuge' served as the finale, the publisher Artaria, concerned about sheet music sales, requested a new final movement for Op. 130, separate from the 'Grosse Fuge.' Consequently, Op. 133 was published as a standalone work. The original work was composed between March and December 1825, and the arrangement between mid-August and September 1826. The first edition was published simultaneously by Artaria in Vienna, encompassing both the original work and the piano four-hands arrangement.

In his late creative period, Beethoven exhibited a profound interest in fugues, as exemplified by his piano sonatas. The 'Grosse Fuge' can be situated as one of these series of endeavors.

The frequent tempo changes between Allegro and meno mosso e moderato are also counted among the distinctive characteristics of his late string quartets.