Symphony No. 81 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 81 in G major (Hoboken 1/81) is a symphony by Joseph Haydn was composed in 1784 as part of a trio of symphonies that also included symphonies 79 and 80.[1]

Movements

It is scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns and strings.

  1. Vivace
  2. Andante, 6/8
  3. Menuetto and trio: Allegretto, 3/4
  4. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo, 2/2

In the first and third movements, Haydn explores "ambiguities of tonality ... which eventually reach their peak of subtlety" of the first movement of Symphony No. 94.[2] The first movement begins "with an unusual and exciting pedal point ... [and] uses a subsidiary subject that appears like a cordial greeting to the newly won friend [Mozart]."[3] The pedals and dissonances point to Mozart's K. 465.[4]

The second movement is a siciliano theme with three variations.[5] The variations are for the most part strophic and straightforward with the exception of a minor-key interlude in the center of the movement between the first and second variations. The final variation contains the fullest orchestration with pizzicato accompaniment and serves to recapitulate the movement.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ HC Robbins Landon, Haydn: Chronicle and Works, 5 vols, (Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1976-) v. 2, Haydn at Eszterhaza, 1766-1790
  2. ^ p. 185 (1970) Hughes
  3. ^ p. 322 (1963) Geiringer
  4. ^ p. 355 (2009) Heartz
  5. ^ p. 186 (1970) Hughes
  6. ^ Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 207-208 (2002).

References