György Kurtág has been inspired at every stage of his career by studying masterpieces from earlier periods of music history. As a result, he has written numerous transcriptions of works by old masters (Guillaume Machaut, Orlando Lasso, Frescobaldi, Schütz, Purcell, Bach, Mussorgsky and Bartók) for piano four hands, two pianos and solo piano. Some of the transcriptions also served his work as a chamber music teacher, others served the Kurtág couple's chamber music at home, and became an indispensable part of their own concerts.

The transcription of the Adagio sostenuto movement of Haydn's String Quartet in G major (op. 76. no.1) for solo piano was made as a gift for Márta Kurtág's 88th birthday in 2015. This publication was released for the 99th birthday of György Kurtág.