MONDAY, November 16, 2020 – 4:23 AM
In everything I write about Haydn’s symphonies I’m going to link to this post HERE and then mention this man’s gut reaction to each symphony, although strangely I don’t even see his name mentioned.
65. Symphony No. 77: If you’re the sort of person who has a soundtrack in their head all the time, the minuet and trio of no. 77 is the perfect accompaniment to jumping methodically into a series of puddles. Approved.
His rating of 65 for No. 77 – out of all 104 symphonies, puts this on the low side, and my take on all three of these “Failed London Trip” symphonies is negative. First of all, I suspect he misunderstood the English – something that totally changed when he actually arrived in London years later – and this whole set hits me as mediocre. I’m never going to listen to any of them again. They all left me cold.
Symphony No. 77 (NO NAME) in Bb major, age 50
- flute, two oboes, two bassoons
- two horns
- strings
Antal Dorati
- 0:01 I. Vivace, Bb major
- 5:58 II. Andante sostenuto, F major
- 11: 28 III. Menuetto & Trio: Allegro, Bb major
- 14:06 IV. Finale: Presto, Bb major
1st movement
It’s another jaunty start with no intro and the same limited orchestration – no trumpet, clarinet or timpani. As with the rest of these symphonies for the London trip that got cancelled, I’m bored. I just have not enjoyed the other two, and this one is the same. It all feels phoned in. Maybe this is a bit better than the last one, but if so, not by much.
2nd movement
It moves to F major, just what we expect. I’m just not interested.
3rd movement
Back to Bb major and it’s a typical polite, easy-listening minuet movement.
4th movement
Again in Bb major, and it least it’s fast, which it won’t be long until this one is over. So this is the 2nd of three that I don’t want to listen to again.
Another trio of symphonies meant for a failed trip to London…
The only thing I can say here, which I will repeat for all three symphonies in this group, is that he liked these, and I don’t. The orchestration is limited, and it all sounds to me polite, predictable and safe. Nothing is dared, so there is nothing to be challenged by or be surprised with. If you absolutely love everything Haydn wrote, you will enjoy this whole trio of symphonies.
But if you are on the fence as I am, think that sometimes he was amazing but other times utterly boring, you won’t like this trio of symphonies