Symphony No. 26 (Haydn)
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The Symphony No. 26 in D minor (Hoboken 1/26) is one of the early Sturm und Drang Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as the Lamentatione.
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[edit] Date of composition and scoring
Haydn wrote the symphony for Easter week of 1766 (the same year that he became full Kapellmeister at the court of the Eszterházy family). It is an early example of the Sturm und Drang style that characterised much of his symphonic output to 1774 or 1775 as well as one of the first symphonies to depart from the predominant (pre-classical) three movement style or the Sonata da chiesa style (such as the Symphony no. 22).
Because of its association with Easter week, Haydn incorporates a melody derived from an old plainsong chant of the Passion of Christ, interpolating (as the second theme) this familiar liturgical setting to contrast with the furious opening theme. The same lament is also picked up in the second movement, reinforcing the symphony's link to the Passion through evocation of a melody that would have been familiar to audiences of the time.
The work is in three movements, ending with a menuet and trio. It is scored for two oboes, two bassoons, horns, timpani, continuo (harpsichord) and strings. An earlier tradition suggested the symphony had been written for Christmas (at the time a much less significant religious holiday), but the oldest original extant manuscript indicate clearly that the symphony was intended for Easter celebrations.
[edit] Nickname (Lamentatione)
Since Haydn's day, the symphony has been known as "Lamentatione" because of the Christus motif of the opening movement's second theme. As with all the nicknamed symphonies, the title is not Haydn's own.
[edit] Movements
- I. Allegro assai con spirito
- II. Adagio
- III. Menuet e Trio
