CLXXXI. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)
How a Black man from the 18th century -- the Chevalier de Saint Georges (1745-1799) -- became a famous violinist, composer and conductor (not to mention a champion fencer) is a story worth reading, which you can do by clicking on the above link.
There you will find that even the great Mozart was jealous of the attention that Parisian society bestowed upon him.
Haydn was already very popular in Paris when the Chevalier commissioned six symphonies from him (#82-87, known today as the "Paris" symphonies) ...
Frederick William II, King of Prussia was also delighted to receive copies of the scores to these symphonies, which his court musicians undoubtedly played for him.
He sent Haydn a note of thanks, enclosing a gold ring.
Haydn in turn, quickly wrote out a set of six string quartets dedicated to the Royal Person -- while simultaneously pulling off a tremendous feat of audacity by selling the entire set to two different publishers!
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First Movement
First Movement
The repeated B-Flats in the cello part are more than a mere introduction -- they provide the meat of the thematic material for the movement, with the accompaniment dancing around in triplets.
Second Movement
6/8. A lovely set of Theme and Variations, with one in a rich E-Flat Minor:
Minuet & Trio -- check out the off-beat interplay in the final section of the Trio:
A whizzing Vivace, with a most unusual Coda:
Cadence to the tonic then a two-bar G.P.!
It starts up again only to cadence thrice more, before the final two-bar conclusion.
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