Symphony No. 44 (Haydn)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 44 in E minor
, Hoboken 1/44, was completed in 1772 by Joseph Haydn
. It is popularly known as Trauer (English: Mourning). Late in life, Haydn asked for the slow movement of this symphony to be played at his funeral.
s, bassoon
, two horns
(in E and G), continuo
(harpsichord
) and strings
:
The piece is typical of Haydn's Sturm und Drang
(storm and stress) period. The first movement, which is in sonata form
, begins with a four-note motif played in unison
which occurs throughout the movement.
The second movement, unusually, is a minuet
in E minor
and trio
in E major
; thus the work is one of the few symphonies of the Classical era to place the Minuet second (others include Haydn's 32nd
and 37th
, and his brother Michael's
15th
and 16th
).. The minuet is in the form of a "Canone
in Diapason" between the upper and lower strings
with the lower strings trailing the upper strings by a single bar. Haydn would later use a similar double canon with the lower strings trailing the upper strings by one measure in the famous "Witches Minuet" of his D minor quartet from Op. 76.
The third movement is slow, also in E major, and with strings mute
d. The finale, like the first movement, is in sonata form
and is dominated by a figure which opens the movement in unison. It is quite contrapuntal
, and ends in E minor rather than finishing in a major key as was usual in most other minor key works of the time (including Haydn's next symphony, the Symphony No. 45
, The Farewell).
Since all of the movements have the same tonic
, the work is homotonal
.
E minor
E minor is a minor scale based on the note E. The E natural minor scale consists of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The E harmonic minor scale contains the natural 7, D, rather than the flatted 7, D – to align with the major dominant chord, B7 .Its key signature has one sharp, F .Its...
, Hoboken 1/44, was completed in 1772 by Joseph Haydn
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...
. It is popularly known as Trauer (English: Mourning). Late in life, Haydn asked for the slow movement of this symphony to be played at his funeral.
Movements
The work is in four movements and is scored for two oboeOboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
s, bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
, two horns
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
(in E and G), continuo
Figured bass
Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones, in relation to a bass note...
(harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
) and strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
:
- Allegro con brio, 4/4
- MenuettoMinuetA minuet, also spelled menuet, is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The word was adapted from Italian minuetto and French menuet, and may have been from French menu meaning slender, small, referring to the very small steps, or from the early 17th-century popular...
: Allegretto, 3/4 - Adagio, 2/4
- Finale: Presto, 2/2
The piece is typical of Haydn's Sturm und Drang
Sturm und Drang
Sturm und Drang is a proto-Romantic movement in German literature and music taking place from the late 1760s through the early 1780s, in which individual subjectivity and, in particular, extremes of emotion were given free expression in reaction to the perceived constraints of rationalism...
(storm and stress) period. The first movement, which is in 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...
, begins with a four-note motif played in unison
Unison
In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance...
which occurs throughout the movement.
The second movement, unusually, is a minuet
Minuet
A minuet, also spelled menuet, is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The word was adapted from Italian minuetto and French menuet, and may have been from French menu meaning slender, small, referring to the very small steps, or from the early 17th-century popular...
in E minor
E minor
E minor is a minor scale based on the note E. The E natural minor scale consists of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The E harmonic minor scale contains the natural 7, D, rather than the flatted 7, D – to align with the major dominant chord, B7 .Its key signature has one sharp, F .Its...
and trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
in E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
; thus the work is one of the few symphonies of the Classical era to place the Minuet second (others include Haydn's 32nd
Symphony No. 32 (Haydn)
The Symphony No. 32 in C major is a festive symphony by Joseph Haydn. The exact date of composition is unknown. It has been suggested by noted Haydn scholar H.C. Robbins Landon that it could have been written as early as 1757 and as late as 1763...
and 37th
Symphony No. 37 (Haydn)
The Symphony No. 37 in C major, Hob. I/37, is a symphony by Joseph Haydn. The numbering is misleading, as it is one of Haydn's earliest symphonies. A copy of the score at Český Krumlov is dated 1758.-Movements:...
, and his brother Michael's
Michael Haydn
Johann Michael Haydn was an Austrian composer of the classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn.-Life:...
15th
Symphony No. 15 (Michael Haydn)
Michael Haydn's Symphony No. 15 in D major, Perger 41, Sherman 15, MH 150, is believed to have been written in Salzburg after 1771. This work was at one time attributed to Joseph Haydn, the first work in D major so attributed....
and 16th
Symphony No. 16 (Michael Haydn)
Michael Haydn's Symphony No. 16 in A major, Perger 6, Sherman 16, Sherman-adjusted 17, MH 152, was written in Salzburg in 1771. This work was at one time attributed to Joseph Haydn, the ninth work in A major so attributed in Anthony van Hoboken's catalog....
).. The minuet is in the form of a "Canone
Canon (music)
In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower...
in Diapason" between the upper and lower strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
with the lower strings trailing the upper strings by a single bar. Haydn would later use a similar double canon with the lower strings trailing the upper strings by one measure in the famous "Witches Minuet" of his D minor quartet from Op. 76.
The third movement is slow, also in E major, and with strings mute
Mute (music)
A mute is a device fitted to a musical instrument to alter the sound produced: by affecting the timbre, reducing the volume, or most commonly both.- Musical directions for muting :...
d. The finale, like the first movement, is in 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...
and is dominated by a figure which opens the movement in unison. It is quite contrapuntal
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
, and ends in E minor rather than finishing in a major key as was usual in most other minor key works of the time (including Haydn's next symphony, the Symphony No. 45
Symphony No. 45 (Haydn)
Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, known as the "Farewell" Symphony , was composed by Joseph Haydn in 1772....
, The Farewell).
Since all of the movements have the same tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
, the work is homotonal
Homotonal
Homotonal is a technical musical term pertaining to the tonal structure of multi-movement compositions. It was introduced into musicology by Hans Keller...
.