Symphony No. 74 (Haydn)

Symphony No. 74 in E major, Hoboken 1/74, is a symphony by Joseph Haydn composed in 1780 or 1781.

Movements

[edit]

The symphony is scored for flute, two oboes, bassoon, two horns and strings. There are four movements:

  1. Vivace assai, 4
    4
  2. Adagio cantabile in B major, 2
    4
  3. Menuetto & Trio: Allegretto, 3
    4
  4. Finale: Allegro assai, 6
    8

The first movement opens in standard Italian style with three loud chords followed by a quiet response. The second theme group is based on an inversion of the quiet response.[1]

The second movement opens like a serenade with muted violins playing a melody over a guitar-like accompaniment in the cello. What follows is a set of three loosely structured variations which avoid the simple strophic pattern of previous sets by allowing the lead-ins and interludes to overlap and a coda which features a small fugato.[1]

The minuet features Lombard rhythms and the trio lets the first violin and the bassoon carry the melody.[1]

The finale is gigue-like and in sonata form.[1]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 184–186 (2002).

References

[edit]
  • Haydn: Chronicle and Works, 5 vols, (Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1976– ) v. 2, Haydn at Eszterhaza, 1766–1790
  • Oxford Composer Companions: Haydn, ed. David Wyn Jones, Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 0-19-866216-5