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.
- Vivace
- Andante, 6/8
- Menuetto and trio: Allegretto, 3/4
- 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
- ↑ HC Robbins Landon, Haydn: Chronicle and Works, 5 vols, (Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1976-) v. 2, Haydn at Eszterhaza, 1766-1790
- ↑ p. 185 (1970) Hughes
- ↑ p. 322 (1963) Geiringer
- ↑ p. 355 (2009) Heartz
- ↑ p. 186 (1970) Hughes
- ↑ Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 207-208 (2002).
References
- Geiringer (1963) Karl. Berkeley and Los Angeles Haydn: A Creative Life in Music University of California Press
- Heartz (2009) Daniel. New York. Mozart, Haydn and Early Beethoven: 1781 — 1802 W. W. Norton & Co.
- Hugues (1974) Rosemary. London. Haydn. J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd
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