1763: Haydn: Symphony No. 33 in C major (PREDICTS BEETHOVEN), age 31 2Tmp Timp

Mr. Peabody Says:

This moves from C major to C minor, and then to F major, so there are two official key changes. We now have two trumpets and timpani, both signs that Haydn at this point was gradually moving towards the far bigger orchestra he eventually wrote for all the time in his London years.

Hogwood

  1. Vivace
  2. Andante, in C minor
  3. Menuet e Trio (Trio in F major)
  4. Finale: Allegro

Total time: 22:18

Adam Fischer

  1. Vivace
  2. Andante, in C minor
  3. Menuet e Trio (Trio in F major)
  4. Finale: Allegro

Instruments:

  • two oboes, bassoon
  • two horns
  • two trumpets
  • timpani
  • strings
  • continuo.

No nickname:

I found only this so far:

The symphony is unusual for its independent viola writing in the opening movement and its sparse harmonies in the second. This latter feature may have been to allow Haydn, who typically conducted his works from the keyboard, to improvise freely.

From this I would guess that this is a “minor work”, meaning good but nothing special. My gut reaction from only listening once is that this very good, sort of a “sleeper”, so I want to come back to it. I did find one scholar who suggested that Beethoven’s 2nd Symphony reminded him of the last movement. So I’m keeping that idea.

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