1785: Haydn: Symphony No. 83 in G minor (THE HEN)

MONDAY, November 9, 2020 – 3:12 AM

Symphony No. 83  (THE HEN) in G minor, age 53

Symphony No. 83 in G minor is the second of the six Paris Symphonies (numbers 82–87) written by Joseph Haydn in 1785 and it was published by Artaria in Vienna in December 1787. It is popularly known as The Hen (French: La poule).

Instrumentation:

  • flute, two oboes, two bassoons
  • two horns
  • strings

Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Nickname (the Hen)

The nickname comes from the clucking second subject in the first movement, which reminded listeners of the jerky back-and forth head motion of a walking hen.

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