Symphony No. 15 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 15 in D major, Hoboken I/15, may have been written between 1760 and 1763.[1]

It is scored for 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 horns, strings and continuo, with a solo for 2 violas or cello in the trio of the minuet.[2] This symphony has four movements:

  1. Adagio, 3/4 - Presto, 4/4 - Adagio, 3/4
  2. Menuet e Trio, with the Trio in G major, both 3/4
  3. Andante in G major, 2/4
  4. Presto, 3/8

The opening movement has two Adagio sections framing the central Presto similar to what is done in the slow movements of the sixth symphony.[3]

The work is one of the few symphonies of the Classical era to place the Minuet second (others include Haydn's 44th and "B" as well as his brother Michael's 15th and 16th). The G major trio was likely played as a quintet focusing on a dialog between violin I/violin II and viola/cello played over a bass.[3]

References

  1. ^ H. C. Robbins Landon, The Symphonies of Joseph Haydn. London: Universal Edition & Rockliff (1955): 637
  2. ^ Landon (1955): 637. "2 ob., 2 cor., str. with 2 violas or solo vcl. in trio [ fag., cemb. ]"
  3. ^ a b Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 77-78 (2002).