Favorite Haydn Symphonies

[Ken B]

I'm curious to know -- are there any that anyone thinks of as being particularly dull and uninspired? Even if it is still not bad?

#107 "Jeux"

[Brahmsian]

I'm curious to know -- are there any that anyone thinks of as being particularly dull and uninspired? Even if it is still not bad?

Well, there was only a single symphony in the entire 106 that did not make much of an impression on me, and considering I've only listened to it once, I plan to revisit it to see if was just a momentary lapse of reason on my part. 

That symphony is Symphony No. 30 in C major "Alleluja".  I don't 'hate' it or think it is 'bad', it just didn't make an impression on me.

[Ken B]

Really? Even my favorite composers have works that I don't care for.
e.g. Bartok's SQs, Ligeti's cello concerto, Ravel's "Tzigane", Debussy's "Iberia", etc.

The ones in the 70s and the every early ones, not 6-8 (the ordering is wrong), are weaker.

[Brahmsian]

Top Five Six: 31, 39, 45, 80, 92, 98

The rest: 6, 26, 52, 53, 69, 73, 81, 86, 92

Greg, we have only the # 31 in common. 

[EigenUser]

Well, there was only a single symphony in the entire 106 that did not make much of an impression on me, and considering I've only listened to it once, I plan to revisit it to see if was just a momentary lapse of reason on my part. 

That symphony is Symphony No. 30 in C major "Alleluja".  I don't 'hate' it or think it is 'bad', it just didn't make an impression on me.

Dang, 106 and not a single dud. Not bad!

[TheGSMoeller]

Greg, we have only the # 31 in common. 

Not true, Ray, we have 106 in common! 

[Brahmsian]

Dang, 106 and not a single dud. Not bad!

It is amazing!  They are all unique, too. 

I honestly cannot say the same for Mozart's symphonies.  I immensely enjoy the late symphonies (last 6 or 7), and a few scattered ones here and there, but many of the earlier Mozart symphonies do not capture my attention and imagination like Haydn's symphonies do.

[Brahmsian]

Not true, Ray, we have 106 in common! 

Well, I do prefer the way you put that, Greg!   

[Florestan]

Really? Even my favorite composers have works that I don't care for.
e.g. Bartok's SQs, Ligeti's cello concerto, Ravel's "Tzigane", Debussy's "Iberia", etc.

Yes, but for me "particularly dull and uninspired"  means "Turn that darn music off right now!". I've never experienced it with Haydn. 

[Brahmsian]

Yes, but for me "particularly dull and uninspired"  means "Turn that darn music off right now!". I've never experienced it with Haydn. 

I can vouch for this, through my Haydn complete symphony journey, and complete string quartets journey.  I loved all of the string quartets.

[EigenUser]

It is amazing!  They are all unique, too. 

I honestly cannot say the same for Mozart's symphonies.  I immensely enjoy the late symphonies (last 6 or 7), and a few scattered ones here and there, but many of the earlier Mozart symphonies do not capture my attention and imagination like Haydn's symphonies do.

I'm sorry to say this as I am sure there are many fans of both composers, but Mozart does nothing for me. Considering how much he is raved about, I guess I don't feel that bad. All I can think of when I listen to it is "oh, that's nice". I appreciate the craft needed to produce his work, but it means little to me on a musical level. Haydn always manages to keep things interesting with dynamic changes, unrelated key changes (but he makes it work), and even the occasional hemiola.

[Ken B]

It is amazing!  They are all unique, too. 

I honestly cannot say the same for Mozart's symphonies.  I immensely enjoy the late symphonies (last 6 or 7), and a few scattered ones here and there, but many of the earlier Mozart symphonies do not capture my attention and imagination like Haydn's symphonies do.

Sarge wants to lynch me for saying pretty much the same thing! 
Had Mozart lived to almost 80 we'd have had dozens of great symphonies from him.

[Ken B]

I'm sorry to say this as I am sure there are many fans of both composers, but Mozart does nothing for me. Considering how much he is raved about, I guess I don't feel that bad. All I can think of when I listen to it is "oh, that's nice". I appreciate the craft needed to produce his work, but it means little to me on a musical level. Haydn always manages to keep things interesting with dynamic changes, unrelated key changes (but he makes it work), and even the occasional hemiola.

But you also avoid the forms where Mozart is best. Quartets, quintets, opera, other chamber music, piano concertos.

[Brahmsian]

Sarge wants to lynch me for saying pretty much the same thing! 
Had Mozart lived to almost 80 we'd have had dozens of great symphonies from him.

Yes, and we must keep in mind that some of the earlier symphonies, Mozart was still in diapers or going through puberty. 

The early symphonies from Haydn were written when he was an adult of around mid-20s.

[Brahmsian]

But you also avoid the forms where Mozart is best. Quartets, quintets, opera, other chamber music, piano concertos.

Agreed.  And he did write some amazing symphonies too.  I'd say that Symphony No. 39 in E flat major is my favourite classical era symphony, of any composer.

There is a lot of depth in so many of Mozart's works.  Many people think he music is purely sunny and cheery, but there is a lot of darkness and sadness in many of his compositions.
Don't forget some of Mozart's sacred works (Great Mass in C minor, Requiem).  And his chamber and orchestral serenades.  Great stuff!

[EigenUser]

Yes, and we must keep in mind that some of the earlier symphonies, Mozart was still in diapers or going through puberty. 

The early symphonies from Haydn were written when he was an adult or around mid-20s.

I find Mendelssohn's youthful writing to be more impressive. He wrote his amazing string symphonies between ages 12-14 (most of them when he was 12).

Then again, it's all impressive. I could never do that!

[Ken B]

I find Mendelssohn's youthful writing to be more impressive. He wrote his amazing string symphonies between ages 12-14 (most of them when he was 12).

Then again, it's all impressive. I could never do that!

Yes Mendelssohn's adolescent works are extremely impressive. MSND was written when he was 17 or 18 I think. But he didn't grow as a composer really after that, and in some ways shrank as he got older.

[Brahmsian]

I find Mendelssohn's youthful writing to be more impressive. He wrote his amazing string symphonies between ages 12-14 (most of them when he was 12).

Then again, it's all impressive. I could never do that!

Same here!    Some of Mendelssohn's early works are really outstanding.   One obvious example is the Octet for Strings.  Wow! 

I have yet to hear Mendelssohn's string symphonies.  Oh well, another thing to add to the never ending 'wish list' pile. 

Sorry to derail this thread.  Back to Papa Haydn Symphonies. 

[Ken B]

Same here!    Some of Mendelssohn's early works are really outstanding.   One obvious example is the Octet for Strings.  Wow! 

I have yet to hear Mendelssohn's string symphonies.  Oh well, another thing to add to the never ending 'wish list' pile. 

Sorry to derail this thread.  Back to Papa Haydn Symphonies. 

It may be off topic, but we are trying to save Nate's soul. He has been listening to *looks around* Stockhausen.

[EigenUser]

It may be off topic, but we are trying to save Nate's soul. He has been listening to *looks around* Stockhausen.

Stockhausen might be totally wacky, but he definitely keeps things interesting. The only problem is that I don't actually musically enjoy most of his works. I like the ideas more than I like the result.

And I agree with the Mendelssohn comment about his best works being in his youth. ChamberNut, I highly recommend the string symphonies -- especially the later ones (but the early ones are great, too). My favorite of his works, along with the wonderful octet.

Back to Haydn . I want to hear 6, 7, and 8 next. They were written when he first started his job with Esterhazy and are apparently based off of three paintings in the concert hall there which were of morning, noon, and evening.