Hob.I:107 Symphony (“A”) in B-Flat Major     
Although it was long assumed this work was for an early string quartet (Op. 1 No. 5), since Landon’s publication in the 50’s its status as one of Haydn’s earliest symphonies has been declared. Despite this, the symphony is slightly unusual in the current context, in part due to the key (it is the only fast movement in a key of B). The allegro at the beginning with its “rocket-like” ascending theme is unusually energetic; the development is relatively long and complex. The andante is a beautiful, intricate miniature which develops an astonishing complexity out of a basically simple idea (the treatment of the downward octave leap at the beginning is particularly regarded). The resolution in triple time happens unusually in 6/8 time, not in 3/8 time, perhaps because of the rapid sixteenth notes in allegro molto (not quarter notes in presto). In the transitional passage and the second group of themes the structure is astonishingly complex; the beginning of the reprise is one of Haydn’s earliest surprises of this kind.

Analysis of the movements

Musicians

Due to the unclear time of origin of most of Haydn’s symphonies - and unlike his 13 Italian operas, where we really know the exact dates of premieres and performances - detailed and correct name lists of the orchestral musicians cannot be given.  As a rough outline, his symphony works can be divided into three temporal blocks. In the first block, in the service of Count Morzin (1757-1761), in the second block, the one at the court of the Esterházys (1761-1790 but with the last symphony for the Esterház audience in 1781) and the third block, the one after Esterház (1782-1795), i.e. in Paris and London.  Just for this middle block at the court of the Esterházys 1761-1781 (the last composed symphony for the Esterház audience) respectively 1790, at the end of his service at the court of Esterház we can choose Haydn’s most important musicians and “long-serving companions” and thereby extract an "all-time - all-stars orchestra".

Music

Score