Haydn: Symphony No. 56 in C major (with Score)

Franz Joseph Haydn:
Symphony No. 56 in C major, Hob. I/56 (with Score)
Composed: 1774
Orchestra: Cologne Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Helmut Müller-Brühl

00:00 1. Allegro di molto (C major)
07:19 2. Adagio (F major)
15:11 3. Menuetto (C major) – Trio (F major)
22:08 4. Finale. Prestissimo (C major)

Between the years 1771-1774, Franz Josef Haydn made many bold developments in his symphonic writing. Although at times he struggled with certain forms, harmonic decisions, and melody, Symphony #56, written in 1774, represents, in almost every way, the pinnacle of achievement in his career until the rich London period of the 1790's. Perhaps excepting only Symphony #97, written almost twenty years later, this work is the finest in the key of C major.

The opening subject of the first movement is introduced successfully by the relatively new compositional device of stating the motive in unison octaves. As we might expect in this key, we are struck by broken chords in the fanfare style. In perfect contrast, the second theme is melodic and lyrical. This thematic balance was a technique used well into the nineteenth century; the first theme called 'masculine' and the second called 'feminine.' The development utilizes a clever compositional device of combining the two motives used separately in the exposition, indicative of his mastery of contrapuntal devices of his youth (such as his fugal finales of his early string quartets). The closing of the movement uses a clever variety of orchestral timbre through the horns and trumpets in high register.

The second movement captures the essential and dramatic lyrical quality of the slow movement in ways with which he struggled in earlier years. Though in simple binary form, the seamless melody is accentuated by an advanced dynamic variety not found in earlier pieces, which, at the end of the movement creates an intense tragic feeling.

The third movement is one his most elegant minuet and trio sections of this period. Rather than the superficial (and obligatory) dance movements of his earlier years, this one utilizes a variety of rhythmical gestures along with an inherent understanding of Austrian folk music in order to realize a more coherent movement.

The finale has the one of most coherent and mature formal structure of any symphony in this key. Although it has the constant push found in many of his early works, it lacks the improvistory character which makes those works feel free-formed. In addition, it displays a greater sensitivity to orchestration, especially with respect to the horns and trumpets. Its constant, almost brutish contrapuntal underpinning makes for a fabulous finish to this inspired work.

All Music Guide
(https://www.allmusic.com/composition/...)

Wikipedia article
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphon...)

Haydn107
(https://www.joseph-haydn.art/en/sinfo...)

International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
(https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.56...)