Symphony No. 55 (Haydn)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 55 in E-flat major, Hoboken I/55, is a symphony
by Joseph Haydn
, composed by 1774
. It is scored for 2 oboe
s, bassoon
, 2 horns
and strings
. It is in four movements:
The second movement is a theme with seven variations. Keeping with the semplicemente marking, the theme is quite simple and is in two halves. A recurring contrast amongst the variations is between those that are staccato
(theme, 2 & 3) and those that are more legato
(1, 4, 5). The variations overlap twice (theme with variation 1, variation 3 with variation 4) in that the first half for the two variations in sequence followed by the second half for each. Both times this is done to contrast a staccato variation with a legato one. For the most part, the movement is for muted strings only, with notable wind outbursts in the second variation as well as the use of full tutti in the seventh variation which serves to recapitulate the movement.
The trio of the Menuetto is scored for solo cello and two solo violins.
The finale is a mixture of variation and rondo
form.
notes that while Haydn's autograph manuscript of the symphony contains no reference to this title, the work has been known by this name since the early nineteenth century. Landon suggests that the dotted rhythm of the second movement calls to mind the wagging finger of a schoolmaster, and points out that in the catalog of his works that Haydn helped prepare in the final years of his life, there is a fragment of a lost Divertimento in D containing a similar dotted rhythm entitled "Der verliebte Schulmeister" (the schoolmaster in love). Landon goes on to propose a program for the symphony's second movement in which the sections marked semplice represent the "strict, pedantic" teacher and the dolce sections depict the same teacher overwhelmed by love.
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
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...
, composed by 1774
1774 in music
- Events :*Antonio Salieri is appointed court composer to the Emperor Joseph II.*Domenico Cimarosa is invited to Rome for the opera season.*Charles Burney writes A Plan for a Music School.*Pascal Taskin becomes keeper of the King's instruments....
. It is scored for 2 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, 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...
, 2 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 ....
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 in four movements:
- Allegro di molto, 3/4
- Adagio ma semplicemente, 2/4 in B-flat major
- 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...
& trio, 3/4 - Finale: Presto, 2/4
The second movement is a theme with seven variations. Keeping with the semplicemente marking, the theme is quite simple and is in two halves. A recurring contrast amongst the variations is between those that are staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
(theme, 2 & 3) and those that are more legato
Legato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
(1, 4, 5). The variations overlap twice (theme with variation 1, variation 3 with variation 4) in that the first half for the two variations in sequence followed by the second half for each. Both times this is done to contrast a staccato variation with a legato one. For the most part, the movement is for muted strings only, with notable wind outbursts in the second variation as well as the use of full tutti in the seventh variation which serves to recapitulate the movement.
The trio of the Menuetto is scored for solo cello and two solo violins.
The finale is a mixture of variation and rondo
Rondo
Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also to a character-type that is distinct from the form...
form.
Nickname ("The Schoolmaster")
H. C. Robbins LandonH. C. Robbins Landon
Howard Chandler Robbins Landon was an American musicologist.He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and studied music at Swarthmore College and Boston University. He subsequently moved to Europe where he worked as a music critic. From 1947 he undertook research in Vienna on Joseph Haydn, a composer...
notes that while Haydn's autograph manuscript of the symphony contains no reference to this title, the work has been known by this name since the early nineteenth century. Landon suggests that the dotted rhythm of the second movement calls to mind the wagging finger of a schoolmaster, and points out that in the catalog of his works that Haydn helped prepare in the final years of his life, there is a fragment of a lost Divertimento in D containing a similar dotted rhythm entitled "Der verliebte Schulmeister" (the schoolmaster in love). Landon goes on to propose a program for the symphony's second movement in which the sections marked semplice represent the "strict, pedantic" teacher and the dolce sections depict the same teacher overwhelmed by love.