Why is it called the Surprise Symphony? The secret of Haydn's success

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Haydn's Surprise Symphony isn't just one dramatic moment. Our Chief Executive Crispin explains why Haydn is the 'King of Symphonies'.
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[@needleboy17]

The first jumpscare.

[@amandamylcraine2569]

I've also read in music history records that he wrote this piece specifically for his audiences because he was sick of them falling asleep! He purposely wrote the second movement here to lull them to sleep and then used that one chord as the SURPRISE to wake everyone up! He found it humorous I suppose. 🤣

[@elaineblackhurst1509]

The story is nonsense; apocryphal, spurious - choose any word you like. Haydn was specifically asked about it, and dismissed the story outright. Incidentally, during Haydn’s two long visits to England (1791/92, and 1794/95), tickets to the concerts were the hottest in London; absolutely nobody was going to sleep, many movements - including the slow ones - were encored, and the newspaper reviews of the concerts were some of the biggest rave reviews ever achieved by any composer in the history of western classical music. Going to sleep…I think not.

[@joannefurnari8749]

Thanks for this great little clip - I used it with my year 7 Music students and it was a good way to introduce Haydn's Surprise and some of the concepts of the era

[@etthhaan9961]

who else is using this video for their music class?

[@X1ncey]

Mhm

[@johannes914]

Great video !... I learned something (again)

[@LukeMaynard]

I"ve heard and enjoyed the Surprise Symphony so many times, that I'm quite familiar with it-as I'm sure that many people who attend the orchestra now are. In that context, the very best performance I've ever heard was from a conductor who had the utterly sacrilegious, but totally inspired, decision to "drop the bass" and hit the full dominant-chord fortissimo a measure early, right before those of us who know it well were expecting it.

[@andream.464]

If you want to know a less Americanised version of the Surprise story: Haydn was invited to stay in London after his former employer had died. Haydn accepted because the orchestra he would have available was much larger than the one he had back in Austria. At the time often concerts would end up in being background music, whilst the aristocracy would chat in the theatre: especially during boring slow movements, where people either slept or chatted. Having Haydn noticed that the British public was quite incline to this behaviour and having a large orchestra available, Haydn could not resist writing a seemingly boring ultra-known popular theme, played slowly, interrupted by a sudden “tutti” played “fortissimo” and followed by very brilliant variations of the theme. That way he made sure to wake up those who were sleeping and engage those who were talking into enjoying the rest of this genial composition.

[@elaineblackhurst1509]

The only problem with your story is that the part about ‘waking up the ladies’ is entirely apocryphal; when later asked about it, Haydn specifically denied that that was the intention. Unfortunately, much of the rest is also inaccurate, doubtful, or spurious: the concerts in London were supported overwhelmingly by the city’s large ticket-buying middle classes. The aristocracy in England (the monarchy and the Church as well), in sharp contrast to much of Europe and Vienna in particular, was almost completely irrelevant in terms of music patronage. Additionally, like Mozart found in Paris, the only interruptions came from wild applause at the *end* of movements, usually accompanied by shouts of ‘Encore’ and ‘Bravo’ et cetera; there is almost no evidence of the poor behaviour you describe. Throughout his very long career, whether in Vienna, Lukavec, Eszterhaza, Eisenstadt, Paris, or London, or anywhere else, Haydn’s music was almost never treated as ‘background music’. The symphonies were not performed in a theatre as such, they were performed in concert halls such as Hanover Square, or the King’s Theatre (simply a name); the slow movements were not considered ‘boring’ - that in the ‘Military’ symphony was probably Haydn’s single biggest hit in London during the two long trips between 1791 and 1795. Et cetera - hope that helps…perhaps you need a new guide book.

[@needleboy17]

Beethoven: I am the best composer ever Mozart: No, I am ???: Amateurs. Mozart: What was that, punk? Haydn: Amateurs.

[@elaineblackhurst1509]

Haydn rated Mozart and Beethoven. Beethoven rated Mozart and Haydn* Mozart rated Haydn ** * In spite of a few tetchy comments. ** Mozart died in 1791, and Beethoven only arrived in Vienna in 1792, so he neither met Beethoven, nor heard any of his music, so could not rate him. In a brief visit to Vienna in 1787, Beethoven may have heard Mozart play once.

[@raymondwang3110]

IB music exam 😭

[@kadyarchibald6801]

Raymond Wang same dude same

[@gonzalo4658]

music is amazing, school is ruining music too!? school fucking ruins everything.

[@gonzalo4658]

i love reading but hate answering questions

[@bma1955alimarber]

yes, thank you very much for this Aufklarung! now I understand where the genius of the Joseph Haydn reside. thank you again dear Sir

[@gmg9010]

Very good video this makes me wanna get back into piano as long as I don’t have to do recitals I’m good

[@siena9031]

I got this video as a link from my band teacher ;w;

[@brockstump9301]

me to

[@Telssa1]

Very succinct and informative.

[@kennethgustan4131]

I'm gonna make my grandpa listen to this lol Edit: Guys help I think my grandpa just got a heart attack help! Should i call the ambulance now?

[@RoeCat32]

R u kidding doe lol...if u are thats nit something to joke abt

[@Righteous_Team]

._.

[@ohimesamayt103]

Hello grade 9 students 👽

[@sriyanperera4453]

The suprise!

[@sheepdog_81]

Brilliant!

[@spacemissing]

Haydn --- the original Elvis/Beatle --- ?

[@shiningarmor2838]

2:06 or as it’s known to everyone else “the drumbeat”

[@kingdmtv1515]

What if the OH SHIT part was sfz

[@vitogeraci7146]

It would be the f-bomb you’d be saying.

[@jia_lol4967]

Bro who else is here bc of school

[@twangbarfly]

Great presentation - a Haydn-like talent for pulling your YT audience into your video :-) Seriously though, thanks!

[@bernardmarquillero538]

I don't want to watch this 😫 help

[@Ziad3195]

????!

[@stanleypopefromdiscord6821]

Kewl

[@mennaabdalla575]

Anyone Sent here from their music teacher and have no purpose here