.gif)
Symphony No. 99 (Haydn)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 99 in E-flat major (Hoboken 1/99) is the seventh of the twelve so-called London Symphonies
(numbers 93-104) written by Joseph Haydn
. The symphony was completed in 1793
. Although not the most frequently performed of his London Symphonies, no. 99 remains nevertheless one of his most original compositions.
s, two oboe
s, two clarinet
s, two bassoon
s, two horns
, two trumpet
s, timpani
and strings
.
It is the first of Haydn's symphonies to be scored for clarinets.
The introduction to the first movement prepares two successive minor-mode keys (E minor and C minor) before deftly switching back to the correct key at the last possible moment, adding a touch of averted melodrama that is revisited with typically comic effect at various points in the symphony.
The Adagio is built around a dialogue between the strings and the winds. Building from an initial echo motif, Haydn's expands the wind choir's role to prominent and extended solo passages - a striking innovation of wind scoring for symphonic writing of this period. The movement also includes, unusually, trumpets, which typically remained tacit during slow movements.
The finale is a stellar example of the Sonata rondo form
that Haydn frequently used in his later symphonic works.
London symphonies
The London symphonies, sometimes called the Salomon symphonies after the man who introduced London to Joseph Haydn, were composed by Joseph Haydn between 1791 and 1795...
(numbers 93-104) written 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...
. The symphony was completed in 1793
1793 in music
-Events:*September 25 – The Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the "black Mozart", loses his command and is imprisoned at Houdainville.* Niccolò Paganini debuts as a violin virtuoso at age 11-Classical Music:...
. Although not the most frequently performed of his London Symphonies, no. 99 remains nevertheless one of his most original compositions.
Instrumentation
The work is scored for two fluteFlute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
s, two oboe
Oboe
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, two clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s, two 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...
s, 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 ....
, two trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s, timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
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...
.
It is the first of Haydn's symphonies to be scored for clarinets.
Movements
- I. Adagio - Vivace assai
- II. Adagio
The Adagio is built around a dialogue between the strings and the winds. Building from an initial echo motif, Haydn's expands the wind choir's role to prominent and extended solo passages - a striking innovation of wind scoring for symphonic writing of this period. The movement also includes, unusually, trumpets, which typically remained tacit during slow movements.
- III. 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...
e Trio. Allegretto
- IV. Finale: Vivace
The finale is a stellar example of the Sonata rondo form
Sonata rondo form
Sonata rondo form was a form of musical organization often used during the Classical music era. As the name implies, it is a blend of sonata form and rondo form.- Structure :...
that Haydn frequently used in his later symphonic works.