Mr. Peabody Says:
Only the slow first movement – which is almost as long as the other three movements combined – is in D minor, the rest of the symphony is in sunny D major. Because of this, the piece is sometimes denoted with two key signatures (i.e. D minor/D major). Since all of the movements have the same tonic, the work is homotonal.
Hogwood
Adam Fischer
Movements:
- Adagio
- Allegro
- Menuet – Trio
- Presto assai
Instruments:
- two oboes,
- bassoon,
- two horns,
- strings and
- continuo
Theatrical origins:
It is possible that this symphony is the one referred to in an inscription accompanying Haydn’s Symphony No. 49 (La passione) which reads:
questa Sinfonia (i.e. 49) serve di Compagna a quella / del Philosopho Inglese dell’ istesso autore.
(This symphony serves as a companion to the “English Philosopher” by the same author.)
This all gets incredibly complicated, but the bottom line is that there is a connection between this symphony and No. 49 (La passione). That’s more important than everything else because it points to a similarity in form, mood and more. Both were apparently about some kind of stiff-necked, overly formal Quaker.
So this symphony is the only one that shares exactly the same movement plan as Symphony No. 49.