Symphony No. 38 in C major (also known as the “Echo Symphony”) is one of Franz Joseph Haydn’s 106 symphonies. The symphony was written sometime between 1765 and 1769, during Haydn’s employment with Prince Esterházy. Many of Haydn’s symphonies in C major correspond with some sort of festival, likely put on by Prince Esterházy. Because of this, these symphonies are sometimes referred to as “Festive Symphonies”. There is, to this date debate, on whether or not the symphony was originally composed using trumpets and drums. Due to this argument, two different versions are still played today (I have linked to a recording with trumpets).
The form of the symphony follows typical Haydn symphony structure, with the first and fourth moments being in sonata form. There are, however, two factors that set this work apart from more typical Haydn symphonies. Firstly, the symphony has a nickname. Like all other nicknames, Haydn did not call the symphony “Echo” himself, the name was come up with after its composition. The name comes from the second movement, Andante molto. In parts of this movement, Haydn has the first violins (un-muted) play a short motif, which is immediately followed by the second violins (muted) playing an identical response (this can be heard clearly at 5:24). In Haydn’s orchestra, the first and second violins would typically be sitting across from each other on opposite sides of the stage, giving this effect the illusion of a natural echo. The second distinguishing factor of the symphony is the oboe part. In the 3rd and 4th movements, Haydn wrote two extremely difficult and virtuosic oboe solo. It is suggested (and likely) that this sudden interest in oboe writing spawned from Esterhazy’s hiring of great oboist Vittorino Colombazzo on September 1768 (He went on lo leave the ensemble in December of the same year).
Sources:
http://www.allmusic.com/composition/symphony-no-38-in-c-major-h-1-38-mc0002366165
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._38_(Haydn)
I really really like the sound of the echo. I feel like it is representative of the way sound bounces in a cave. It’s cool how it centers around the cadences of the second movement. I feel like it makes it strong and stable.
ReplyDeleteIn my head its kind of messed up that composers don't give their work a name and then some joe-shmoe comes around and names it after its composed and out there. If it were me I would've liked to be called how I originally intended, or didn't intend, it to be called. It's like taking someone's child and giving them another name.
ReplyDelete