Symphony No. 69 (Haydn)

Field Marshal Laudon for whom the 69th symphony is nicknamed

The Symphony No. 69 is a symphony by Joseph Haydn in C major, Hoboken I/69, known as the "Laudon" symphony. Composed around 1775–1776,[1] it represents a stylistic departure from the composer's earlier intense Sturm und Drang period and was written at the same time as Haydn was writing numerous comic operas. Despite the lighter tone, however, the symphony is "as finely crafted, as interesting, indeed as original, as the preceding ones, albeit very different in character."[2]

  1. ^ James Webster, "Program Notes" Oiseau-Lyre CD 460-776-2 (1999), 13
  2. ^ James Webster, "Program Notes" Oiseau-Lyre CD 460-776-2 (1999), 12