Symphony No. 64 (Haydn)

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The Symphony No. 64 in A major (Hoboken I/64) is a symphony by Joseph Haydn. It is often known by the nickname Tempora mutantur.

1 Date of composition and scoring
2 Nickname (Tempora mutantur)
3 Movements
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Date of composition and scoring

The symphony was composed by 1775 or possibly a year or two earlier. It is scored for two oboes, two horns and strings.

[edit] Nickname (Tempora mutantur)

The nickname is Haydn's own. On the orchestra parts prepared for this symphony at Esterházy, he placed the heading "Tempora mutantur, et.". The full version of this quote is "Tempora mutantar, nos et mutamur in illis. Quomodo? Fit semper tempore peior homo." which translates to "The times change and we change with them. How? As they become worse, so do we." Haydn likely knew this quote from the collection of Epigrammata published in 1615 by John Owen.^[1]

[edit] Movements

I. Allegro con spirito
II. Largo
III. Menuetto & Trio: Allegretto
IV. Finale: Presto

The likely date of composition puts it firmly in the Sturm und Drang period that produced masterpieces such as symphonies 44 to 48. The opening Allegro con spirito is typically robust and serious with the themes drifting into minor mode at certain points and with a wide range of dynamics. The scoring is wonderfully transparent, with the horn parts high enough to add brilliance. The Largo as so often in this period has muted strings. It must surely count as one of Haydn's most beautiful creations. Its broad melody is punctuated by frequent short pauses, demonstrating an understated pleading and yearning quality which is so typical of Haydn. We are tricked into thinking the movement is for strings alone until the wind instruments interject powerfully half way through.The end of the movement is particularly effective with the first horn right at the bottom of its register and the second horn taking the melody from the violins. The mood changes to light and cheerful for the minuet and trio, while the final Presto is in the form of a Rondo.