Paris symphonies
Encyclopedia
The Paris Symphonies are a group of six symphonies written by Joseph Haydn
and performed at the Concert Spirituel
, the Concert de la Loge Olympique (Concert of the Olympic Lodge) and the Concert de Amateurs (Concert for the Fans) in Paris.
writes: "All during the early 1780's Haydn's symphonies were performed at the various Parisian concerts with unvarying success, and numerous publishing houses -- among them Guera in Lyon, Siber, Boyer, Le Duc and Imbault in Paris, etc. -- issued every new symphonic work by Haydn as soon as they could lay hands on a copy.".
The work was composed for a large Parisian orchestra called "Le Concert de la loge 'Olympique'" (Orchestra of the 'Olympic' (Masonic) Lodge). This organization consisted in part of professionals and in part of skilled amateurs. It included 40 violins and ten double basses, an extraordinary size of orchestra for the time. (Haydn's own ensemble at Eszterháza
was never larger than about 25 total.). According to Robbins Landon, "The musicians wore splendid 'sky-blue' dress coats with elaborate lace ruffles, and swords at their sides." They performed in a large theater with boxes in tiers. The performances were patronized by royalty, including Queen Marie Antoinette
, who particularly enjoyed the Symphony No 85, giving rise to its nickname.
The individual responsible for commissioning the symphonies from Haydn was Claude-François-Marie Rigolet, Comte d'Ogny (i.e., count of Ogny), an aristocrat still in his twenties (his life dates were 1757-1790). The Count, who was the "Intendant Général des Postes" (postal service superintendent), grew up in a very musical household, where his father kept a great collection of musical manuscripts. Patronage of music may have been an extravagance for the Count, since at his death he left a huge debt of 100,000 livres.
The actual negotiations with Haydn were carried out at Ogny's request by Joseph Boulogne
, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the talented leader of the Loge Olympique orchestra. Haydn was paid 25 louis d'or
for each symphony plus 5 louis for the French publication rights; the sum was apparently very satisfactory from Haydn's point of view, since the lack
of copyright laws had generally prevented him from profiting much from his popularity as a composer.
, who participated in the orchestra, the finest musicians in Paris performed in the premieres of the symphonies, and received them with "rapture". The works were also popular with public and press, and were soon published in London and Vienna as well as in Paris.
The anonymous critic of the Mercure de France particularly praised Haydn's ability to write "monothematic" sonata expositions (as they are now called; see sonata form
): "this vast genius, who in each one of his pieces knows how to draw developments so rich and varied from a unique theme (sujet)--very different from those sterile composers who pass continually from one idea to another for lack of knowing how to present one idea in varied forms"..
Modern critics also appreciate the works. Robbins Landon calls them "a remarkable fusion of brilliance, elegance, and warmth." Charles Rosen
writes "There is not a measure, even the most serious, of these great works which is not marked by Haydn's wit; and his wit has now grown so powerful and so efficient that it has become a sort of passion, a force at once omnivorous and creative."
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
and performed at the Concert Spirituel
Concert Spirituel
The Concert Spirituel was one of the first public concert series in existence. The concerts began in Paris in 1725 and ended in 1790; later, concerts or series of concerts of the same name occurred in Paris, Vienna, London and elsewhere...
, the Concert de la Loge Olympique (Concert of the Olympic Lodge) and the Concert de Amateurs (Concert for the Fans) in Paris.
The Symphonies
The symphonies are:- Symphony No. 82Symphony No. 82 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 82 in C major, Hoboken 1/82, is the first of the so-called six Paris Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as the Bear Symphony .-Background:...
in C major, The Bear (17861786 in music-Events:*November 7 – America's oldest singing society is founded as the Stoughton Musical Society.*In Britain, William Parsons succeeds John Stanley as Master of the King's Musick....
) - Symphony No. 83Symphony No. 83 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 83 in G minor, Hoboken I/83, is the second of the six so-called Paris Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn in 1785 and it was published by Artaria in Vienna in December 1787....
in G minor, La Poule ("The Hen") (17851785 in music-Events:*Composer Supply Belcher settles in Maine.*Violinist Regina Strinasacchi marries Johann Conrad Schlick, cellist & konzertmeister of the Gotha ducal band.*Joseph Haydn premieres the first of his Paris symphonies on commission from Count d'Ogny...
) - Symphony No. 84Symphony No. 84 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 84 in E-flat major, Hoboken I/84, is the third of the so-called six Paris Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It is sometimes known by the subtitle In nomine Domini.- Background :...
in E flat major, In Nomine Domini (17861786 in music-Events:*November 7 – America's oldest singing society is founded as the Stoughton Musical Society.*In Britain, William Parsons succeeds John Stanley as Master of the King's Musick....
) - Symphony No. 85Symphony No. 85 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 85 in B flat major, Hoboken 1/85, is the fourth of the six "Paris" symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as La Reine .- Background :...
in B flat major, La Reine ("The Queen") (17851785 in music-Events:*Composer Supply Belcher settles in Maine.*Violinist Regina Strinasacchi marries Johann Conrad Schlick, cellist & konzertmeister of the Gotha ducal band.*Joseph Haydn premieres the first of his Paris symphonies on commission from Count d'Ogny...
) - Symphony No. 86Symphony No. 86 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 86 in D major, Hoboken I/86, is the fifth of the so-called six Paris Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn.-Movements:...
in D major (17861786 in music-Events:*November 7 – America's oldest singing society is founded as the Stoughton Musical Society.*In Britain, William Parsons succeeds John Stanley as Master of the King's Musick....
) - Symphony No. 87Symphony No. 87 (Haydn)The Symphony No. 87 in A major, Hoboken 1/87, is the last of the six so-called Paris Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It was written in 1786.-Movements:...
in A major (17851785 in music-Events:*Composer Supply Belcher settles in Maine.*Violinist Regina Strinasacchi marries Johann Conrad Schlick, cellist & konzertmeister of the Gotha ducal band.*Joseph Haydn premieres the first of his Paris symphonies on commission from Count d'Ogny...
)
History
Parisians had long been familiar with Haydn's symphonies, which were being printed in Paris as early as 1764. H. C. Robbins LandonH. C. Robbins Landon
Howard Chandler Robbins Landon was an American musicologist.He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and studied music at Swarthmore College and Boston University. He subsequently moved to Europe where he worked as a music critic. From 1947 he undertook research in Vienna on Joseph Haydn, a composer...
writes: "All during the early 1780's Haydn's symphonies were performed at the various Parisian concerts with unvarying success, and numerous publishing houses -- among them Guera in Lyon, Siber, Boyer, Le Duc and Imbault in Paris, etc. -- issued every new symphonic work by Haydn as soon as they could lay hands on a copy.".
The work was composed for a large Parisian orchestra called "Le Concert de la loge 'Olympique'" (Orchestra of the 'Olympic' (Masonic) Lodge). This organization consisted in part of professionals and in part of skilled amateurs. It included 40 violins and ten double basses, an extraordinary size of orchestra for the time. (Haydn's own ensemble at Eszterháza
Eszterháza
Esterháza is a palace in Fertőd, Hungary, built by Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. Sometimes called the "Hungarian Versailles", it is Hungary's grandest Rococo edifice.-History:...
was never larger than about 25 total.). According to Robbins Landon, "The musicians wore splendid 'sky-blue' dress coats with elaborate lace ruffles, and swords at their sides." They performed in a large theater with boxes in tiers. The performances were patronized by royalty, including Queen Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
, who particularly enjoyed the Symphony No 85, giving rise to its nickname.
The individual responsible for commissioning the symphonies from Haydn was Claude-François-Marie Rigolet, Comte d'Ogny (i.e., count of Ogny), an aristocrat still in his twenties (his life dates were 1757-1790). The Count, who was the "Intendant Général des Postes" (postal service superintendent), grew up in a very musical household, where his father kept a great collection of musical manuscripts. Patronage of music may have been an extravagance for the Count, since at his death he left a huge debt of 100,000 livres.
The actual negotiations with Haydn were carried out at Ogny's request by Joseph Boulogne
Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George was an important figures in the Paris musical scene in the second half of the 18th century as composer, conductor, and violinist. Prior to the revolution in France, he was also famous as a swordsman and equestrian...
, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the talented leader of the Loge Olympique orchestra. Haydn was paid 25 louis d'or
Louis d'or
The Louis d'or is any number of French coins first introduced by Louis XIII in 1640. The name derives from the depiction of the portrait of King Louis on one side of the coin; the French royal coat of arms is on the reverse...
for each symphony plus 5 louis for the French publication rights; the sum was apparently very satisfactory from Haydn's point of view, since the lack
of copyright laws had generally prevented him from profiting much from his popularity as a composer.
Reception
According to the composer Luigi CherubiniLuigi Cherubini
Luigi Cherubini was an Italian composer who spent most of his working life in France. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries....
, who participated in the orchestra, the finest musicians in Paris performed in the premieres of the symphonies, and received them with "rapture". The works were also popular with public and press, and were soon published in London and Vienna as well as in Paris.
The anonymous critic of the Mercure de France particularly praised Haydn's ability to write "monothematic" sonata expositions (as they are now called; see sonata form
Sonata form
Sonata form is a large-scale musical structure used widely since the middle of the 18th century . While it is typically used in the first movement of multi-movement pieces, it is sometimes used in subsequent movements as well—particularly the final movement...
): "this vast genius, who in each one of his pieces knows how to draw developments so rich and varied from a unique theme (sujet)--very different from those sterile composers who pass continually from one idea to another for lack of knowing how to present one idea in varied forms"..
Modern critics also appreciate the works. Robbins Landon calls them "a remarkable fusion of brilliance, elegance, and warmth." Charles Rosen
Charles Rosen
Charles Rosen is an American pianist and author on music.-Life and career:In his youth he studied piano with Moriz Rosenthal. Rosenthal, born in 1862, had been a student of Franz Liszt...
writes "There is not a measure, even the most serious, of these great works which is not marked by Haydn's wit; and his wit has now grown so powerful and so efficient that it has become a sort of passion, a force at once omnivorous and creative."