Haydn's Haus

[Gurn Blanston]

Part 7

1758
Things were growing steadily better for Haydn throughout 1758. Count Morzin, his new employer, had his own orchestra of 16 musicians. Haydn's engagement as music director and composer paid the princely sum (for him) of 200 florins a year plus room and board. This was a huge step forward both financially and socially, and he made the most of it. There is a sad lack of documentary evidence of what life was like in the Morzin establishment. Clearly there was plenty of time for composition, since there are many surviving works that date from this period. But as for life itself, simply not much.

Here is the music of 1758;

Hob 01_002 Symphony in C
Hob 01_018 Symphony in G   
The Hanover Band / Goodman



Hob 02_03 Divertimento a cinque in G for Winds   
Hob 02_07 Divertimento a sei in C for Winds   
Haydn Sinfonietta Wien / Huss




Hob 03_03 Divertimento in D for Strings Op 1 #3   
Piccolo Concerto Wien
Hob 03_04 Divertimento in G for Strings Op 1 #4   
Hamburg Soloists / Emil Klein



Hob 16_07 Sonata #2 in D for Cembalo (Harpsichord)   
Hob 16_10 Sonata #6 in C for Clavier (Clavichord)
Hob 16_D1 Sonata #07 in D for Cembalo
Yuko Wataya
Hob 16_08  Sonata #1 in G  for Cembalo   
Hob 16_09 Sonata #3 in F  for Cembalo
Christine Schornsheim


Well, we may not have an abundance of biographical info from this period, be we have plenty of music!

Here is another case of the numbers attached to the symphonies being not quite right. Just as we saw "No. 37" last year, so we see "No. 18" this time. Although we have managed to get Nos. 1 & 2 done up in proper sequence!  Hob 18 is a nice little work, it really sounds like its time, unlike many of Haydn's early works. The slowish intro actually has the feel of a minuet, sort of an oddity when you start playing it you almost want to check and make sure it started at the beginning. That persists throughout the opening movement, so it never really becomes sonata-allegro, challenging our expectations. An early 'Surprise' symphony!  Anyway, I chose Goodman for these. Once again, it is Goodman and Hogwood, and the virtually-impossible-to-find Solomons. You won't be disappointed with Goodman. 

Here is that exception to the non-HIP/PI early string quartet/divertimentos. Piccolo Concerto Wien is certainly a PI group. Among other things, they provide the accompaniment for the baryton group in the Brilliant box when we get to the Baryton Octets. So they know Haydn well. They use a violone for the Baßo part in these quartets. I personally think it sounds brilliant, and would really like to have more than these 2 (plus a third that is not by Haydn but still very nice). As nice as a cello sounds, this deeper, 16' bass just seems to provide more oomph, yet never loses its mellowness. I recommend this disk to anyone who is interested in hearing a different, perhaps more authentic take on these works.

This year we get five more early sonatas. As before, I am going with Wataya and Schornsheim. Also once again, we are pleased to hear one of these on the clavier, which Wataya is particularly gifted on. Both of these cembalos, Wataya's reproduction of a 1770 Taskin and Schornsheim's 1976 Dowd, are particularly nice sounding animals, so people with cembalophobia can edge up on them without fear.  

Still interested in any feedback. Other recommendations, corrections, additions etc.

[Que]

Here is that exception to the non-HIP/PI early string quartet/divertimentos. Piccolo Concerto Wien is certainly a PI group. Among other things, they provide the accompaniment for the baryton group in the Brilliant box when we get to the Baryton Octets. So they know Haydn well. They use a double bass for the Baßo part in these quartets. I personally think it sounds brilliant, and would really like to have more than these 2 (plus a third that is not by Haydn but still very nice). As nice as a cello sounds, this deeper, 16' bass just seems to provide more oomph. I recommend this disk to anyone who is interested in hearing their take on these works.

Ha, there it is!! I'm glad you like it.

I've enjoyed it very much as well. After the demise of Symphonia, the ensemble switched allegiances to Accent. The recording has now been reissued and hopefully there will be additional recordings.

[asin]B004RS7Z18[/asin]

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

Ha, there it is!! I'm glad you like it.

I've enjoyed it very much as well. After the demise of Symphonia, the ensemble switched allegiances to Accent. The recording has now been reissued and hopefully there will be additional recordings.

[asin]B004RS7Z18[/asin]

Q

Ah, and I see with the label switch that the lady has put on a tiny bit more clothes, although the loss of the elfin expression is to be mourned.

That is a good thing though, Que. I was unaware of the label news, and when I went looking for a recommendation on the Symphonia label I came up dry. Accent could be a useful partner.

[SonicMan46]

Part 7 - 1758

Hob 03_03 Divertimento in D for Strings Op 1 #3   
Piccolo Concerto Wien

Gurn - thanks for your Part 7 continuation; the disc above peaked my interest and I found it at BRO for $7 (description attached - the Symphonia one); also the same group doing some Boccherini Divertimenti which actually complement the Capriccio disc w/ one overlap only - so added that to my order along w/ a few others to justify the shipping!  Dave

[jlaurson]

Listening right now, because I'm writing about no.44.

One of my favorite non-HIP recordings is Fricsay...  but Scherchen is special, too, in his old fashioned proto-radical ways.




J. Haydn,
Symphony No.44 "Mourning"
hermann scherchen
Archiv / DG

German Link
French Link
UK Link

Anyone (among the German speakers) discovered the UNBELIEVABLY awesome website "Haydn 100&7", btw.?

[Gurn Blanston]

Listening right now, because I'm writing about no.44.

One of my favorite non-HIP recordings is Fricsay...  but Scherchen is special, too, in his old fashioned proto-radical ways.




J. Haydn,
Symphony No.44 "Mourning"
hermann scherchen
Archiv / DG

Anyone (among the German speakers) discovered the UNBELIEVABLY awesome website "Haydn 100&7", btw.?

Scherchen was a pioneer in many ways. A man before his time, perhaps. The symphony itself is another of my favorites; Stürm und Dräng Haydn at his best. 

For the info of the non-German speakers, that highly informative website is also in English. It is the place where I mined the latest chronology of the symphonies a couple of years ago. Check it out, lots of stuff there!   

[Leon]

Just discovered this -

[asin]B0032SK6SS[/asin]

Although the group seems to have a very good PI reputation, this is my first exposure to them.  I am enjoying the playing very much.

[Bogey]

Just discovered this -

[asin]B0032SK6SS[/asin]

Although the group seems to have a very good PI reputation, this is my first exposure to them.  I am enjoying the playing very much.

Looks nice....$40 for one disc?

Now:

Haydn's Lira Concertos....licensed for the Big Brick Brilliant set by Vox.  I am guessing they are the same ones Hugo Ruf played on in the 60's.  Cannot say they are my cup of tea.  The Lira sounds almost electronic:



Man, Papa got into some interesting instruments.  He would of fit nicely into the Beatles toward the end of their run.  Haydn....the true 5th Beatle!

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm goin' to, Esterházy fields....

[Leon]

Looks nice....$40 for one disc?

I was surprised at that price too - but I did not purchase the disc, choosing a d/l instead.

[Gurn Blanston]

Just discovered this -

[asin]B0032SK6SS[/asin]

Although the group seems to have a very good PI reputation, this is my first exposure to them.  I am enjoying the playing very much.

Yeah, I looked that disk over last year and had a hankering for it, but the price was outrageous, and since I have many (good) versions of those works already I decided to give it a miss. I have no doubt at all that it is a lovely rendering though. 

[Karl Henning]

. . . and since I have many (good) versions of those works already . . . .

Show us one or two, Gurn?

[Gurn Blanston]

Looks nice....$40 for one disc?

Now:

Haydn's Lira Concertos....licensed for the Big Brick Brilliant set by Vox.  I am guessing they are the same ones Hugo Ruf played on in the 60's.  Cannot say they are my cup of tea.  The Lira sounds almost electronic:



Man, Papa got into some interesting instruments.  He would of fit nicely into the Beatles toward the end of their run.  Haydn....the true 5th Beatle!

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm goin' to, Esterházy fields....

Yes, same ones, Bill. Lira was among the more bizarre instruments that Haydn wrote for, it's true. I like that he lavished the same care as he did on string quartets and symphonies. If you don't care for the sound of the lira, the same music was rearranged for London a few years later, with the lead instruments being changed to flute and oboe. In fact, most versions of these works are in that configuration, the lira versions being recorded more as a novelty for people like me than anything else.

I think George Martin was his bastard great-great-great-great grandson, actually, out of Becky Schröder...

[Gurn Blanston]

Show us one or two, Gurn?

Here's one with Hob 18:6, the cembalo & violin concerto;



I don't know that I have put up the album covers of others in Photobucket. I can rec some tonight though. Not $0/disk...

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh, here's another also;



Those are 2 sets worth buying, BTW.

[Gurn Blanston]

Looks nice....$40 for one disc?

Now:

Haydn's Lira Concertos....licensed for the Big Brick Brilliant set by Vox.  I am guessing they are the same ones Hugo Ruf played on in the 60's.  Cannot say they are my cup of tea.  The Lira sounds almost electronic:



Man, Papa got into some interesting instruments.  He would of fit nicely into the Beatles toward the end of their run.  Haydn....the true 5th Beatle!

Let me take you down, 'cause I'm goin' to, Esterházy fields....

Actually, Bill, I see they have alternatives now (it took a while for them to show up!). Most ship out of Europe, but saving $30 is worth the wait! 

[Karl Henning]

. . . Those are 2 sets worth buying, BTW.

Thanks!

[mc ukrneal]

Yeah, I looked that disk over last year and had a hankering for it, but the price was outrageous, and since I have many (good) versions of those works already I decided to give it a miss. I have no doubt at all that it is a lovely rendering though. 

But with MP sellers, it's like $5 (or $8 with shipping). That's not too bad.

EDIT: Woops. Already up to $7.50, but $10 with shipping is still not $40! I think someone here has been busy buying...

[Gurn Blanston]

But with MP sellers, it's like $5 (or $8 with shipping). That's not too bad.

EDIT: Woops. Already up to $7.50, but $10 with shipping is still not $40! I think someone here has been busy buying...

Yes, but that's now, not then. There was only 1 MP seller at that time, and he wanted $31, a scant saving over the $40 that Amazon asked...   I went ahead and ordered it at that better price today. I imagine it won't arrive until December.

[jlaurson]

Scherchen was a pioneer in many ways. A man before his time, perhaps. The symphony itself is another of my favorites; Stürm und Dräng Haydn at his best. 

His "Farewell" is quite OTT.  Not unlike Minkowski's "Surprise" -- althoughScherchen is working off a debunked myth and Minkowski just messes with people. (I mean that in the best sense; I love Minkowski's set.)

[Gurn Blanston]

His "Farewell" is quite OTT.  Not unlike Minkowski's "Surprise" -- although Scherchen is working off a debunked myth and Minkowski just messes with people. (I mean that in the best sense; I love Minkowski's set.)

I would like to hear it once. I have never spoiled Minkowski's "Surprise" for anyone, but I still enjoy the bizarreness of it. I would enjoy to see that group play, although I doubt they will show up at my local venue for a while...