Symphony No. 104 (Haydn)

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The Symphony No. 104 in D major (Hoboken 1/104) is the last of the twelve so-called London Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. Indeed, it is the last symphony that Haydn ever composed. It is popularly known as the The London Symphony.

1 Nickname (London)
2 Date of composition and scoring
3 Movements
4 External Link

[edit] Nickname (London)

This work is singled out among the twelve London Symphonies as the one to carry the London nickname.

[edit] Date of composition and scoring

It was completed in 1795.

The work is in standard four movement form and scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings.

[edit] Movements

The first movement is in Sonata form and starts in cut time. The movement is monothematic, meaning that it only has one theme since the second theme is actually the first theme in A Major. The movement starts with a slow and grand introduction in D minor, the parallel minor of the tonic key. The exposition follows and is in D Major and starts with the strings playing the first theme. A first theme is modulated to A Major with the woodwinds to form a second theme. The exposition closes with a codetta. The development begins in B minor. It uses the rhythmic pattern of the second half of the theme. The development ends with the full orchestra. In the recapitulation, the first theme is heard again in D Major. It uses imitative patterns of the woodwinds in the second theme. The piece closes with a coda in D Major.