1760: Haydn: Symphony No. 15 in D major, age 28

Mr. Peabody Says:

Start with these two recording of the same last movement and compare, because they are radically different.

  1. Presto 2:16
  2. Presto 3:42

For me the 2nd recording is horrible:

It’s not quite twice as slow, but it’s 163% of the first, which is glacial and thus incredibly boring. How any conductor could make this mistake I do not know, but presto mean either fast or very fast. So the slow tempo ruins the music.

Some of these early symphonies are not available in several recordings. My first reaction to a last movement that is marked presto is that it’s supposed to be fast, and this time I think Fischer is stodgy. I think the rest of the symphony is worth listening to, but the last movement for me is a total failure. I think Haydn would hate it.

Christopher Hogwood/The Academy of Ancient Music

  1. Adagio – Presto – Adagio 6:20
  2. Menuet & Trio 5:00
  3. Andante G major 6:25
  4. Presto 2:16

Adam Fischer:

  1. Adagio – Presto – Adagio 6:37
  2. Menuet & Trio 5:00
  3. Andante G major 4:37
  4. Presto 3:42

Instruments:

  • 2 oboes
  • bassoon,
  • 2 horns,
  • strings and
  • continuo

1st movement:

The opening movement has a unique character of its own. The movement begins with a light adagio with the first violins alternating with two horns while the rest of the string section accompanies in pizzicato.

The Presto has two themes with distinct bridges between themes however it is difficult to define which section is the exposition, development and recapitulation, if in fact there even are such sections. The movement finishes with a modified version of the Adagio at the beginning of the movement.[3]

2nd movement:

The work is one of the few symphonies of the Classical era to place the Minuet second (others include Haydn’s 44th and “B” as well as his brother Michael’s 15th and 16th). The G major trio was likely played as a quintet focusing on a dialog between violin I/violin II and viola/cello played over a bass.

3rd movement:

The slow movement is for strings and has one principal theme with several bridge motifs.

4th movement:

The final movement is a dance-like presto in ABA form.

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