Symphony No. 4 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 4 in D major, Hoboken I/4, is believed to have been written between 1757 and 1761.

It is scored for 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 horns, strings and continuo.[1] As usual for the period, it is in three movements:

  1. Presto, 6/8
  2. Andante in D minor, 2/4
  3. Tempo di Menuetto, 3/8

The second movement features a syncopated second violin part.[2] The walking eighth-notes of the second violins are offset by half a step (a sixteenth note) from the first violins that play above it.[3]

The finale is marked Tempo di Menuetto, but is not in the 3/4 time of a minuet, but in the 3/8 time which is typical of Haydn's other early symphonic finales.[2] Also, unlike other minuets, the movement lacks a central trio section.

References

  1. ^ H. C. Robbins Landon, The Symphonies of Joseph Haydn. London: Universal Edition & Rockliff (1955): 618. "2 ob., (fag.), 2 cor., str., [ cemb. ]"
  2. ^ a b HC Robbins Landon, Haydn: Chronicle and Works, 5 vols, (Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1976-) v. 1, Haydn: the Early Years, 1732-1765
  3. ^ Hodgson, Antony, "The Music of Joseph Haydn: The Symphonies", p. 47-48