CCCXXIV. HAYDN, Franz Joseph: Symphony #103 in E-Flat Major ("The Drumroll")

CCCXXIV. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)

Symphony #103 in E-Flat Major ("The Drumroll") (1795)
1. Adagio -- Allegro con spirito
2. Andante più tosto allegretto
3. Menuetto
4. Finale: Allegro con spirito
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Maxim Emelyanychev, cond.
(31:14)

First Movement

After the timpani roll which gives the symphony its nickname, we have four consecutive notes which match the ancient Dies Irae chant:

Also notice how he writes the celli and bass an octave apart (in different directions), which produces the same pitch! [the bass sounds an octave below the written note.]

The ambiguous harmony in the opening ends on a held G, but Haydn bursts into the tonic key with the 6/8 Allegro:

From the remote key of D-Flat Major

Haydn works his way back to the recap, and starts the Coda with a restatement of the initial Adagio before finishing up with the Allegro motif --

which now contain the Dies Irae intervals!

Second Movement

It is no wonder the audience at the 1795 premiere demanded that this movement be repeated. It is delightful:

1. The theme frequently slips between minor
2. and major;
3. the trills and
4. staccato add variety;
5. clever orchestration, giving the bassoon the melody;
6. and then a solo violin;
7. finishing with great contrast: light strings, winds, followed by tutti, ending in C Major ...

Third Movement

Nice movement to G-Flat Major before returning to E-Flat ...

For some reason, this conductor gives the melody in the violins to the clarinet. No creative license for that.

But much worse is that he takes all the repeats in the D.C. of the minuet. WTF?

Fourth Movement

Intoduced with a short horn call, the movement contains only one theme, repeated, but developed throughout with shifting harmonies and constantly changing orchestral sonorities.