Symphony Number 94
“SURPRISE”
THIS PIECE HAS FOUR MOVEMENTS
• MOVEMENT ONE:
Adagio cantabile;
Vivace assai
• That means:
adagio: slowly
cantabile: in a singing style
vivace: quickly
assai: a lot of
• So, this movement starts SLOWLY (adagio) but in a singing
style (cantabile) and then becomes FAST – very fast (Vivace
assai).
• THIS IS THE FAST PART:
VIVACE ASSAI
• The violins have lots of energy (vivace).
• The violins have many, many notes to play. This takes a bit of
practice…
• And, just when the violins are getting tired…
• ENTER THE OBOE!
But just briefly and
the violins are back!
• The first theme of the fast section is a brief dance tune that is
played softly by the violins, then loudly by the full orchestra.
• The second theme is a carefree waltz melody.
Instruments in this piece:
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Flutes
Oboes
Bassoons
French Horn
Trombone
Timpani
Violins
Violas
Cellos
Basses
When was this written?
• The numbers of Haydn’s symphonies aren’t assigned in the
right order!
• This set of symphonies was composed for Haydn’s first trip to
London in 1791-1972.
• The symphonies were composed in the order: 96-95-93-9498-97.
• No, that doesn’t really make much sense….
• Symphony number 94 was written during the summer and
fall of 1791 and first performed on March 23 of the following
year.
• It was performed in London, where Haydn had been invited
to live for a while.
SURPRISE?
• For the second movement (you’ll hear that later), Haydn’s
original intention was simply to write a set of variations on a
tune.
• Actually, the fortissimo outburst (LOUD NOISE) that gave the
symphony its nickname was an afterthought!
• It was not prompted by his wish to “wake the ladies and make
them scream” but by his desire to compete with his former
pupil Ignaz Pleyel, who had been brought to England and was
his rival.
• Haydn thought it would be funny to use this idea, as Pleyel
had taken this idea from HIM originally.
• Whatever the reason, the effect was brilliantly successful and
brought forth all sorts of descriptions and interpretations in
the press.
• In other words, IT GOT THEIR ATTENTION!
Joseph Haydn
• 1732-1809
• Born in
Rohrau,
Austria
Interesting…
• Mozart was one of Haydn’s dearest friends.
• While Haydn was in London, he found out that Mozart had
died at age 34! Haydn was devastated.
• He also knew Beethoven.
• They were not great friends, but they had mutual respect.
Haydn’s writing
• This manuscript is in a museum in Austria. It is the original
writing of Joseph Haydn.
Some symphonies can last for a couple hours!
• The entire symphony, all FOUR movements, is only about 22
minutes long.
• In the “Surprise Symphony”, Haydn returns to the closing
theme which brings a feeling of relaxation, and the movement
ends joyfully.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ending of this great first
movement!
• I hope you have enjoyed the first movement of the “Surprise
Symphony”!