This month, we are
exploring the development of the symphony throughout history. Entering the
latter half of the 18th-century, we have prominent composers such as
Haydn and Mozart who added their own individual marks to this ever-evolving
orchestral genre.
Known as the
“father of the symphony,” Joseph Haydn spent the greater portion of his life
working for the royal Hungarian Esterházy family. This explains Haydn’s
extensive output as he was expected to compose a variety of works at any given
moment for court entertainment.
Following Stamitz’s
model, Haydn typically employed the four-movement structure in his symphonies.
He was known to create various themes that he would then develop and vary
throughout the rest of the work. He also sought to create tuneful, expressive
compositions. His orchestra, though perhaps a bit larger than those earlier in
the century, still had no more than twenty-five to thirty-five members compared
to up to one hundred found on stages today.
Haydn was known as
a jokester, this quality exhibiting itself throughout many of his works. His
Symphony No. 45 “Farewell” was written as a hint to Prince Nikolaus Esterházy
to allow his orchestra members to return home to see their families after an
extended stay at the prince’s summer home. During the final part of the
symphony, members of the orchestra gradually begin to put their instrument down
and walk off the stage, leaving only two violins at the end!
Haydn’s Symphony
No. 94 is known as the “Surprise” symphony. Do you know why? Listen here and
let me know what you think!
