Symphony No. 20 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn
This article is about the symphony by Joseph Haydn. For the symphony by Michael Haydn, see Symphony No. 20 (Michael Haydn).

The Symphony No. 20 in C major (Hoboken I/20) is a festive[1] symphony by Joseph Haydn. Hodgson places the composition date in either 1761 or 1762[2] while Brown states that it was likely composed before 1761.[3] Calvin Stapert affirmatively states that it was composed in the group of 15 symphonies within Haydn's tenure with Count Morzin (1757 - March 1761). And is festive, like C major Symphonies 32, 33, and 37. [4] It is scored for 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings and continuo.[5] The symphony is in four movements:

  1. Allegro molto, 2
    4
  2. Andante cantabile, 2
    2     in G major
  3. Minuetto (C major) & Trio, F major 3
    4
  4. Presto, 3
    8

The winds are silent in the serenade-like second movement with the melody in the first violins, broken chords in the second violins and a pizzicato bassline.[3]

  1. ^ Antony Hodgson, The Music of Joseph Haydn: The Symphonies. London: The Tantivy Press (1976): 57.
  2. ^ (Hodgson, 1976): 202.
  3. ^ a b A. Peter Brown, The first golden age of the Viennese symphony: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, p. 47. Indiana University Press, 2002. ISBN 0-253-33487-X, 9780253334879
  4. ^ Stapert, Calvin (2014). Playing Before the Lord- Life of Joseph Haydn. p. 35.
  5. ^ H. C. Robbins Landon, The Symphonies of Joseph Haydn. London: Universal Edition & Rockliff (1955): 645. "2 ob., 2 cor. (C, prob. alto), 2 clarini (trpt.), timp. str. [ fag., cemb. ]."