CCXLV. HAYDN, Franz Joseph: Concerto for keyboard in F Major, Hob. XVIII/3

CCXLV. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)

Concerto for keyboard in F Major, Hob. XVIII/3 (1771)
1. Allegro
2. Largo cantabile
3. (Finale) Presto
Musica Antiqua Amsterdam
Ton Koopman, harpsichord
(20:53)

1720 Cristofori

Bach briefly promoted the new pianoforte in 1749 -- a year before his death. As far as we know, anything he wrote for keyboard was played contemporaneously on a clavier -- or harpsichord.

Mozart's earliest works were meant for harpsichord -- but certainly his late concerti were performed on the piano -- whose greatly improved tonal capabilities were readily exploited by the boy genius, as well as its ability to sustain and play piano and forte.

Haydn -- particularly this early work from 1771 -- is another question. It sounds great on piano, but nevertheless I've chosen a Ton Koopman recording with harpsichord.

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First Movement

This simple arpeggiated theme

is further developed ...

The solo keyboard enters with a variation of the theme:

and eventually the part flourishes with rapid 16th-note triplets:

Up and down the keyboard with the lightest of string accompaniment:

Second Movement

This delicate silken writing seems more suited to the spidery sound of the harpsichord than a plundering piano.

Third Movement

Note the delighful syncopation:

and again notice how Haydn lets the soloist keep up the 16th-note pace with the most minimal accompaniment in the strings: