Haydn’s 104th Symphony

[alycidon]

I’ve just been listening to the fourth movement of the London on EC and for the first time ever I reckoned that it said - ‘That’s it. That’s me done’. I’ve always felt that 104 had an air of finality about it, but it really brought that home this morning!

[ardcarp]

Then there's No 105

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZI-bftm1c

Mind you, I've always thought it silly calling it '105'. Best just to use the Sinfinia Concertante title.

[Once Was 4]

Then there's No 105

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZI-bftm1c

Mind you, I've always thought it silly calling it '105'. Best just to use the Sinfinia Concertante title.

Interesting point here which shows how times change: in my early professional days I played 2nd horn in Haydn 104 with one of the BBC orchestras; their 1st horn then was a legendary figure in the business. At bar 309 in the last movement the horns and basses hold a bagpipe-like drone for 10 bars; except that I was told alter the notes every other bar so as to fit the harmony as "horns in those days could not do that properly!" Talking to a few other players afterwards I learned that it was standard practice to do that - thus robbing the piece of Haydn's humour. Just imagine somebody trying to do that these days!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just imagine somebody trying to do that these days!

I'd rather not!

The "valedictory" tone towards the end of the work is something that can be over-emphasized by conductors - a school I once worked for had a recording by (I think) Jochum which was very good, except that it really "lingered" over that section just before the buoyant Coda (a bit like last night's Death in Paradise) as if old Joe were about to shuffle off his mortal. There is a tone of farewell - but to his London audiences and friends, not to life (or even the genre of the Symphony - he had no notion that he wouldn't be writing any more).

[Oakapple]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZI-bftm1c

How do the players know when to start in that clip?

[Tony Halstead]

How do the players know when to start in that clip?

In 'real life' LB was never quite 'so far ahead' with his beat. I suspect a technical problem resulted in this appalling lack of synchronisation between sound and vision.

[alycidon]

Then there's No 105

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GZI-bftm1c

Mind you, I've always thought it silly calling it '105'. Best just to use the Sinfinia Concertante title.

Thank you for that, Ardcarp. I never knew that it existed, still less having listened to it. I now have, thanks to that YouTube link and I’ll listen to the whole piece later.

[cloughie]

I’ve just been listening to the fourth movement of the London on EC and for the first time ever I reckoned that it said - ‘That’s it. That’s me done’. I’ve always felt that 104 had an air of finality about it, but it really brought that home this morning!

It should have been106 but A and B weren’t numbered!

[alycidon]

You’ll be telling me he wrote 120 if this goes on!

[Tony Halstead]

It should have been 106 but A and B weren’t numbered!

Perhaps you mean 107? Where A=105 and B=106 of course.

[cloughie]

Perhaps you mean 107? Where A=105 and B=106 of course.

As I am enjoying a phase of listening to music from the Bach to Mozart era I should set myself the enjoyable task of listening to all the Haydn Symphonies before 2020 is out!

[ardcarp]

I should set myself the enjoyable task of listening to all the Haydn Symphonies before 2020 is out!

Just a suggestion. If it were me, I wouldn't try to do it chronologically. Mixing the early with the late makes one appreciate the qualities of both.... the emerging symphonic form and its later architecture in the hands of a mature master.

[cloughie]

Just a suggestion. If it were me, I wouldn't try to do it chronologically. Mixing the early with the late makes one appreciate the qualities of both.... the emerging symphonic form and its later architecture in the hands of a mature master.

The other thought I had was which recordings - I could do all Dorati - my only complete set - but I think a mix would be better - I obviously need a cunning plan!

[pastoralguy]

As I am enjoying a phase of listening to music from the Bach to Mozart era I should set myself the enjoyable task of listening to all the Haydn Symphonies before 2020 is out!

I'd recommend the period instrument set on DECCA with Hogwood, Brüggen and Dantoni if you have access to it. We borrowed the set from the local library and listened over a period of a couple of months. A very rewarding experience!

[cloughie]

I'd recommend the period instrument set on DECCA with Hogwood, Brüggen and Dantoni if you have access to it. We borrowed the set from the local library and listened over a period of a couple of months. A very rewarding experience!

I have the Hogwood portion of the box, which finished at 75 but also has 94/96/100/104 plus 107/108!