Symphony No. 39 (Haydn)

This article is about the symphony by Joseph Haydn. For the symphony by Michael Haydn, see Symphony No. 39 (Michael Haydn).

The Symphony No. 39 is a symphony in G minor (Hoboken 1/39) by Joseph Haydn in 1765. It is the earliest of Haydn's minor key symphonies associated with his Sturm und Drang period works (such as the Symphony No. 45). The work was influential and inspired later G minor symphonies by Johann Christian Bach (Op. 6, No. 6) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (No. 25).

Movements

It is written for an orchestra consisting of two oboes, four horns (two in B-flat alto and two in G), and strings (violins divided into two, violas, cellos and double basses). There are four movements:

1. Allegro assai, 4/4
2. Andante, 3/8 in E flat major
3. Menuet, 3/4
4. Finale: Allegro di molto, 4/4

The opening movement features a nervously exciting main theme with interrupted by frequent pauses. Both the first and second theme groups begin with the same two bars of melodic material.

In contrast to the Sturm und Drang of the opening movement, A. P. Brown describes the Andante as "one of Haydn most galant slow movements, with its small meter signature, sixteenth tripets, slides, weak resolutions, echoes, and generally thin texture".

The minor mode returns for the Minuet which is contrasted by a bright major-mode Trio which features high notes for the first horn.

The frenetic Sturm und Drang finale brings the symphony to an energetic conclusion.

References

• Robbins Landon, H. C. (1963) Joseph Haydn: Critical Edition of the Complete Symphonies, Universal Edition, Vienna