István Bogár (1937-2006) was a world-renowned Hungarian composer best known for his works for winds. He composed concertos for trumpet, trombone, tuba, two horns, trumpet and horn, as well as several chamber works for winds and works for concert band. Furthermore, he wrote an oratorio, a cantata, various choral works, and folksong arrangements.

The subject of the Character Variations is a well-known Hungarian folksong with a characteristic asymmetric metre. The theme is followed by nine imaginative variations, including a waltz, a jig, a march, a chorale, a toccata, and a playful echo piece. The four-minute long composition, which can effectively be performed even by music students, is rounded off by a virtuosic perpetuum mobile variation.