I do not really know what Haydn had in mind when he penned the opening bars of this Symphony, but to me it has always sounded like that first long stretch in the morning -- I mean the first one that feels good. Haydn's Symphony No. 84 "Oxford" was written for an event at Oxford University on the occasion of his recieving an honorary Doctor of Music Degree. And what a way to remember it. The name was not given by Haydn of course, but it is apropos considering the circumstance. Often these nicknames don't actually say anything important about the music or the events they were written for but in this case it does.
On this CD are two other "named" Symphonies "Surprise" and"Miracle". Of course everyone knows by now the story of the "Surprise". Haydn was upset by the audiences inatentiveness at certain points int he concerts. Hisbeautifulslow movements were frequently disrupted by the sound of audience members snoring. Haydn's surprise for them is the unexpected very loud chord struck by the full orchestra just at he point when the audience members were about ta falll asleep. Still today when I hear this worrk, at a distance of some 200 years -- and no! I was not there -- I'm still surprised when it happens along even though I know to expect it. This is Haydn's skill as a composer of the Symphony that he can craft a work such as this.
These last 12 Symphonies of Haydn, they are called the "London" Symphonies. Two sets of 6 works written on commmssion from the Impressario Salomonn. One name only, he did have a full name, but wished to be known by only this designation. His "daytime" job was as a vioilinist in London, but he also produced events such as the series of concerts these symphonies were comossioned for.
The first set of 6 Symphonies, and the last 6 London Symphonies, written for a return engagement in London, were the last Symphonies he wrote. And one day, int he middle of writing I string quartet, he layed down his pen and simply said he'd written his last notes. He kept his word. But what a life-time acheivement. During his lifetime the symphony rose to its greatest pinnacle and was on its way down. He'd written music for the Court of Esterhazy every night for a major portion of his life.
At the time Sallomon had been trying to arrange for Mozart to come to London armed with 12 of his own Symphonic works. Sadly, Mozart's untimely death prevented t his. One cannot help but wonder what those would have been like in light of the utter genius of his last Symphony. That work has been nicknamed the "Jupiter". after Roman God. In this case the name aptly describes the grandure and sheer genius of the work.
The particular recordings I ma listening to are no longer available, however the complete Haydn Symphonies played by The Philharmonia Hungarica under Antal Dorati in a monumental undertading to record all the Haydn Symphonies and Operas. All of them from a new edition of the works of Haydn editied by noted schollar H.C.Robbins Landon. These recordings appeared in the mid-seventies in boxed sets which included orchestral scores and comentary by H.C.Robbins Landon. The playing is out standing and I wished I could have afforded to purchase them as they appeared. They are re-released in a 33 CD Boxed Set from Decca/London catalogue 00289 448 5312. The sound is originally the much preferred analogue type recordings rematered for CD.
I do not really know what Haydn had in mind when he penned the opening bars of this Symphony, but to me it has always sounded like that first long stretch in the morning -- I mean the first one that feels good. Haydn's Symphony No. 84 "Oxford" was written for an event at Oxford University on the occasion of his recieving an honorary Doctor of Music Degree. And what a way to remember it. The name was not given by Haydn of course, but it is apropos considering the circumstance. Often these nicknames don't actually say anything important about the music or the events they were written for but in this case it does.
On this CD are two other "named" Symphonies "Surprise" and "Miricle". Of course everyone knows by now the story of the "Surprise". Haydn was upset by the audiences inatentiveness at certain points int he concerts. His beautiful slow movements were frequently disrupted by the sound of audience members snoring. Haydn's surprise for them is the unexpected very loud chord struck by the full orchestra just at he point when the audience members were about ta falll asleep. Still today when I hear this worrk, at a distance of some 200 years -- and no! I was not there -- I'm still surprised when it happens along even though I know to expect it. This is Haydn's skill as a composer of the Symphony that he can craft a work such as this.
These last 12 Symphonies of Haydn, they are called the "London" Symphonies. Two sets of 6 works written on commmssion from the Impressario Salomonn. One name only, he did have a full name, but wished to be known by only this designation. His "daytime" job was as a vioilinist in London, but he also produced events such as the series of concerts these symphonies were comossioned for.
The first set of 6 Symphonies, and the last 6 London Symphonies, written for a return engagement in London, were the last Symphonies he wrote. And one day, int he middle of writing I string quartet, he layed down his pen and simply said he'd written his last notes. He kept his word. But what a life-time acheivement. During his lifetime the symphony rose to its greatest pinnacle and was on its way down. He'd written music for the Court of Esterhazy every night for a major portion of his life.
At the time Sallomon had been trying to arrange for Mozart to come to London armed with 12 of his own Symphonic works. Sadly, Mozart's untimely death prevented t his. One cannot help but wonder what those would have been like in light of the utter genius of his last Symphony. That work has been nicknamed the "Jupiter". after Roman God. In this case the name aptly describes the grandure and sheer genius of the work.
The particular recordings I ma listening to are no longer available, however the complete Haydn Symphonies played by The Philharmonia Hungarica under Antal Dorati in a monumental undertading to record all the Haydn Symphonies and Operas. All of them from a new edition of the works of Haydn editied by noted schollar H.C.Robbins Landon. These recordings appeared in the mid-seventies in boxed sets which included orchestral scores and comentary by H.C.Robbins Landon. The playing is out standing and I wished I could have afforded to purchase them as they appeared.
They are re-released in a 33 CD Boxed Set from Decca/London catalogue 00289 448 5312. The sound is originally the much preferred analogue type recordings rematered for CD.
I do not really know what Haydn had in mind when he penned the opening bars of this Symphony, but to me it has always sounded like that first long stretch in the morning -- I mean the first one that feels good. Haydn's Symphony No. 84 "Oxford" was written for an event at Oxford University on the occasion of his recieving an honorary Doctor of Music Degree. And what a way to remember it. The name was not given by Haydn of course, but it is apropos considering the circumstance. Often these nicknames don't actually say anything important about the music or the events they were written for but in this case it does.
On this CD are two other "named" Symphonies "Surprise" and "Miricle". Of course everyone knows by now the story of the "Surprise". Haydn was upset by the audiences inatentiveness at certain points int he concerts. His beautiful slow movements were frequently disrupted by the sound of audience members snoring. Haydn's surprise for them is the unexpected very loud chord struck by the full orchestra just at he point when the audience members were about ta falll asleep. Still today when I hear this worrk, at a distance of some 200 years -- and no! I was not there -- I'm still surprised when it happens along even though I know to expect it. This is Haydn's skill as a composer of the Symphony that he can craft a work such as this.
These last 12 Symphonies of Haydn, they are called the "London" Symphonies. Two sets of 6 works written on commmssion from the Impressario Salomonn. One name only, he did have a full name, but wished to be known by only this designation. His "daytime" job was as a vioilinist in London, but he also produced events such as the series of concerts these symphonies were comossioned for.
The first set of 6 Symphonies, and the last 6 London Symphonies, written for a return engagement in London, were the last Symphonies he wrote. And one day, int he middle of writing I string quartet, he layed down his pen and simply said he'd written his last notes. He kept his word. But what a life-time acheivement. During his lifetime the symphony rose to its greatest pinnacle and was on its way down. He'd written music for the Court of Esterhazy every night for a major portion of his life.
At the time Sallomon had been trying to arrange for Mozart to come to London armed with 12 of his own Symphonic works. Sadly, Mozart's untimely death prevented t his. One cannot help but wonder what those would have been like in light of the utter genius of his last Symphony. That work has been nicknamed the "Jupiter". after Roman God. In this case the name aptly describes the grandure and sheer genius of the work.
The particular recordings I ma listening to are no longer available, however the complete Haydn Symphonies played by The Philharmonia Hungarica under Antal Dorati in a monumental undertading to record all the Haydn Symphonies and Operas. All of them from a new edition of the works of Haydn editied by noted schollar H.C.Robbins Landon. These recordings appeared in the mid-seventies in boxed sets which included orchestral scores and comentary by H.C.Robbins Landon. The playing is out standing and I wished I could have afforded to purchase them as they appeared.
They are re-released in a 33 CD Boxed Set from Decca/London catalogue 00289 448 5312. The sound is originally the much preferred analogue type recordings rematered for CD. As well the Paris Symphonies catalogue number 00289 473 8012 are avilable as a 2 CD set.
As you may have gathered I am not a fan of "authentic" or "original" insturmental ensembles for a number of reasons, to detailed to go into here. With aan eminant scholar like H.C.Robbins Landon supervising the recordings these were superb recordings.
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