Repertoire: The Haydn Symphony CRUSADE (No. 1)

[@Godenholm]

Mr.Hurwitz, as Voltaire said «If David Hurwitz did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him». I'm a self-confessed Hurtwitz talks addict. My gratitude.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks very much.

[@Shmookcakes]

In 2016, my first year in college, I started listening to classical music in chronological order by major composer. I started with the earliest and breezed through. Then I was stuck on JS Bach for months. Then, once I reached Haydn, I was again stuck.... for 3 years. One year in there I was listening to his music probably more than 8 hours per day. All for a composer who's work I went in to expecting to be bored. And now years later, even though I've branched out way more, I still find myself stuck on Haydn for at least one month out of the year. ¡Viva Haydnissimo!

[@heron6462]

Thank you, David! I'm going to really enjoy this series. I've loved Haydn since encountering him at school 50 years ago. The listener can detect immediately, with or without musical training, that his music is wonderfully well crafted. To me, he epitomizes sanity, humor and optimism like no other composer.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That's a very good description of him!

[@xenocrates2559]

Haydn is my favorite composer. I never tire of listening to his music; it always makes me smile. There is something about Haydn that is balanced and sane; but I don't mean that in a trivial way. Fortunately for me, Haydn wrote a lot of music so I have a lot to listen to and a lot to learn from them. Thanks for doing this series on the Haydn symphonies.

[@Shmookcakes]

Very well put!

[@dhoffheimerj]

I cannot express fully here my enthusiasm for your deliberate and complete exposition of all these crown jewells of western civilization. i am very grateful.

[@Wolfcrag85]

A masterclass in Haydn's symphonies. Thank you, David.

[@daviddunlap8930]

Hooray for Haydn! Thank you for doing this crusade! (It makes me feel a little less alone in my Haydn advocacy/obsession!

[@davidaiken1061]

At last! I was hoping you would do this trek through the Haydn Symphonies. Judged by the criterion of "proportion of quantity to quality" Haydn's output is second only to Bach's in greatness. That is why I have spent decades getting to know the symphonies, string quartets, trios, sonatas, masses, baryton works, etc. etc.Just as there are no really dull Bach Cantatas (not sure whether you would agree with that, Dave), there are no really dull Haydn Symphonies or String Quartets. He was the master of surprise, and not just in the "Surprise Symphony." Also a master of charm, as you point out. Your exposition of this symphony and how the first movement exemplifies the principles of sonata style was brilliant and remarkably clear. Onward!

[@dem8568]

Wow, really amazing stuff. Thanks so much for sharing your passion, wisdom, and knowledge.

[@phillipbissell]

Thank you so much for beginning this Haydn Crusade! The first installment was a joy to listen to and I look forward to accompanying you on this journey..... Marvellous!!! What with the Bach Schlep and now the Haydn Crusade AND all of your other reviews.... what more could a music lover want in a KZbin channel! Thank you, David!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming along!

[@avihalevi5042]

David my friend, I could not think of a better Crusade for all of us to go on....I am envious of those whom are embarking on the Haydn journey for the first time....when seeking "something to listen to " Haydn always fills the bill ! All aboard on the Haydn Crusade

[@michaelmurray8742]

I’m finally getting round to watching this series. Looking forward to it

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Have fun!

[@s28101]

It will be a blast, so greatfull. First pearl on a long string. Thanks so much. Best regards

[@mattestabrook]

Thanks for launching this Haydn Crusade! I started my own a few years ago and was charmed from the first note of the first symphony. I invested in both the Dorati set and your excellent Haydn book, and I have benefitted a great deal from both ever since.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That is awesome!

[@davidaltschuler9687]

A perceptive summary to be kept in mind always: Haydn was an outdoors composer; Mozart was urban. Really good, sir!

[@JamesDavidWalley]

I don’t know - I've always thought of _Eine Klein Nachtmusik_ as an outdoors piece. Now, maybe this might mean "outdoors" in the sense of played at a major social event in the gardens of a patron's palatial country estate…but outdoors nonetheless.

[@AlexMadorsky]

We’ll have to start calling you Indiana Jones if you’re leading a crusade. I’m glad I read your Haydn book before you dove into this video. I learned much of the information you review here, and am a much more adept listener for it. The Bach Cantata Schlep will be a bit like eating my vegetables, but the Haydn Crusade will be dessert the whole way.

[@edwinbaumgartner5045]

You managed it! I have my Dorati-Box here, again, and I will do the symphonies I avoided until now - i.e. 1-10. Your characterization as Haydn as an outdoor composer (and Mozart as urban) is the best I ever heard. Maybe, this is the cause I like Haydn more. He has the rough edges, I admire so much. And I imagine often the public at Esterhaza, all noble and rich and members of the high society, which got to hear sort of sophisticated folk- and peasant-music. Haydn must have bursted of laughter.

[@dianamcdougall9251]

My first real love as a composer when I was initially into classical music was FJ Haydn and I remember buying his complete set of symphonies on the London label of the Dorati conducted recordings and being entranced by these amazing works. I agree that he's a ridiculously underrated AND especially underappreciated composer too. Love his solo piano music, piano trios, symphonies, string quartets and masses especially. He's a real marvel.

[@anthonycook6213]

Although I have listened to them all before, now that I have finally assembled a complete collection (a 50+ year project), I will reprise using your videos for info. Stravinsky also considered Haydn to be the most innovative composer.

[@shemammal]

Great channel, sir. I'm looking forward to the Haydn crusade. I have been a Haydn fan for years and he continually astonishes me. I recently rediscovered No. 70 and enjoyed the use of it it your "Jupiter" video. Haydn Symphonies. What an embarrassment of riches!

[@jensguldalrasmussen6446]

I really enjoy your Bach Cantata Schlep, David (oh, but just talking about enjoyment in this connection make little pangs of protestant guilt swim over me - even though I left the lutheran denomination years and years ago...and may call for a qualification: it's the music I consider a joy and some of the chorale texts too. Not the tepid theology of the rest of the texts!). With that said, you taking up the gauntlet and proclaim the Haydn symphony crusade made me very exhilarated - and I immediately want to sign up under the banner. Go nail them Haydn heathens! 😁 Your very clear and pedagogical introduction to the 1st symphony, by the way, elucidated me on a few aspects of sonata form (e.g. the 'motion music' and its role in the development section), that I've always had difficulties in fathoming. Thank you for taking the trouble of very conscientously analyzing this embryonic form of greater things to come - a very good starting point for maybe finally being able to discard of my dunce cap and get a grip of things, when they get more complex! Ps. Jyväskylä is a town in the central part of Finland - note that the ä isn't pronounced as the german a umlaut, but signifies, that it's pronounced as a long a, more like 'aaa'. If it's of any consolation to you: the finish language is so complex, that the editorial staff on finish newspapers need a dictionary to make sure, that they get some of the 14 or 16 declinations of city names correct, before they publish! 🤯

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you for the kind words, and the Finnish lesson!

[@mthompson0977]

This is wonderful ! So glad you are doing this Crusade

[@jsh31425]

Look at me... I thought I knew who I liked and didn't like, and here I am, listening to early Haydn, as well as tons of Dvorak, who I never gave a real chance to. David, thanks for your influence.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank YOU for listening.

[@JZHerrenberg]

Excellent way for me of finally comprehending the nature and size of Haydn's symphonic achievement! Great initiative!

[@איילבראון-ס8ה]

Thanks! I hope that after the Bach cantata SCHLEP and the Haydn CRUSADE you will go on with a Leif Segerstam symphony pilgrimage !

[@jensguldalrasmussen6446]

Oh, no...please don't! That would be so much of a Schlep, that it amounts to carrying the cross to Golgatha! Some of us endured so much of Segerstam for it to last more than a lifetime, when he was chief conductor of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. So, please, mr. Hurwitz, have mercy upon us!

[@frankgyure3154]

Great idea. Over the last few years I have really grown to love Haydn. I have the boxed set of symphonies by Adam Fischer. I do realize that you recommended the Dorati box.Imho, I find the Fischer set has a bit more bounce,better rhtyms. I do have the Dorati 48-59 and I find the rhythms a bit stodgy. It may have been the nature of the time these were recorded (circa 1970). Dorati was an excellent conductor. Fisher may have the advantage of recording later(1987 and later). I do look forward to this Haydn Crusade and I look forward to all your videos. Thank you.

[@frankgyure3154]

In addition I have the entire String Quartets by the Angeles String Quartet. The complete piano sonatas by Ronald Brautigam. I have additional symphonies;Szell,Bernstein,Cilin Davis, Harnoncourt (Paris symphonies) Solti,LPO London symphonies. And all the Masses by Gardiner (yes Indeed).

[@wapolo1974]

This was great, David! I’m really looking forward to future instalments of the Haydn Symphony Crusade. I never really gave his music much though before, considering him to be like so many others before me, to be a “poor man’s Mozart”. But you’re definitely setting me straight with these videos. ;)

[@johannessauer3758]

Great job 👌! Looking forward to the next episode 🤠

[@bertrob8733]

Thank you. Very good presentation.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You are welcome!

[@SocrateSatrapoulos]

Great video! I'm on to listen to a lot of Haydn in the next few days/weeks/months

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much, and have fun.

[@Sulsfort]

Great project!

[@tortuedelanuit2299]

A much deserved tribute to the Master! I would estimate that half of the symphonies, including No. 1 are "great."

[@garthhudson]

First time hearing this piece! Damn, Haydn was pretty much a master from the start, wasn't he? What a phenomenon.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, he was. That is the point.

[@ngershon]

I haven't listened a lot to Mendelssohn, but his symphonies seem to be similar in their compactness, moving between the subjects quickly and efficiently.

[@robinicus1133]

This particular entry reminds me of when I was 11 and first attended North Eastern College in Trinidad, WI. One of our classes was Music Appreciation. And what did the teacher talk about? Haydn, specifically, the Surprise Symphony. It's interesting that David Hurwitz and my old teacher had the same exalted respect for Haydn.

[@franz-josefknelangen1353]

Listening along with the Fischer box, since it is on Qobuz, I just detected that some of the early symphonies made it into the Haydn 2032 project with Il Giardino armonico / Giovanni Antonini, namely #1, #3, #4, with decent use of Continuo in 1, 4 and no Continuo at all in #3, #3 is recorded with Kammerorchester Basel. Most of Haydn 2032 is also on Qobuz.

[@elagabalus-imperator]

DH - thanks for an awesome intro to Haydn's symphonies; I have his symphonies, but have never listened to all of them. You have provided me with the context for delving into them, beginning with Symphony No. 1. Note: looking forward to EVERY review of Hadyn's symphonies (as well as your Bach cantata "schlep" videos - awesome!). Again, thanks for expanding my appreciation for classical music.

[@mdfacp]

Thank you! I'm just discovering Haydn at 57 although I've enjoyed symphony number 104 my entire life. Instagram or Twitter feed? I went to your website and there was none listed.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

There aren't any.

[@MisterPathetique]

I'm a bit late to the party -- or am I? -- but I just wanna say THANK YOU for doing this. This kind of series is such a precious ressource for anyone (like myself) who wants to get familiar with this music. What you're doing is a work of public utility, I swear.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you. Tune in tomorrow for No. 11!

[@mgketteridge]

Please, where has number 56 got to? Do you have a link?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Coming soon...

[@mgketteridge]

@@DavesClassicalGuide My wife and I have been listening to your talks and then the complete symphony under discussion afterwards on an almost daily basis. Have been great fans of Haydn for many years. We're about to go on a short cruise and will look forward to coming back to your next talks on our return.

[@joewebb1983]

Starting the crusade! 🙂

[@georgejohnson1498]

This the best yet! I have not started the Bach cantata Schlepp yet, - this will come first! Bach and Haydn are my musical Heroes. The older I get the more my musical taste is becoming a distillation. Still love the music of Sibelius and many others in between, but somehow none of this could have had the significance it does [or at least in the way it does] without the twin summits of JSB and FJH. Thanks from George PS: I have one set of the Twelve London Symphonies [Jochum on DG] and two half sets from Beecham [first six] and Woldike [second half], several from Klemperer and probably twenty isolated performances from other favourite musicians like Adam Fischer and Edwin Fischer [of various London and earlier symphonies], but it seems like Naxos may provide the missing links for the largely unknown [for me] others! Would it be fair to say that you recommend the Naxos set as fine survey, or should Dorati be the choice?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'm fond of Dorati for its consistency all the way through, but Naxos has some splendid performances and it's easier to source at this point, even if it's more variable.

[@georgejohnson1498]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks, In the LP time I had everything from the Paris Symphonies to 104 from Dorati. Extremely fine, and I understand what you say about consistency. On the other hand I am always partial to a bit of variety in approach with a survey of a very large ouevre. I never expect every performance in a large box set to scale every summit with equal brilliance. You have me on the hook for much more Haydn Symphonies. I love No One already! Thanks for your reply and best wishes from George

[@teeker2012]

Awesome! Looking forward to this crusade! Great excuse to start listening to the whole 107 of them. Thanks David! Have you written a book on Haydn or plan on one, Or do you recommend one?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, I have written a book. You can find it on Amazon or direct from the publisher, Amadeus Press (Rowman and Littlefield).

[@sivakumarvakkalanka4938]

Wow ! What a project !

[@BrainiacFingers]

Brilliant!

[@glgermain]

We start with Symphony No 1, which you say was written by a mature Haydn who was in his 30s, but how did he come to be? Were there earlier symphonies that were destroyed? Were there earlier symphonic works that he didn't call "symphonies"? Did this talent really spring forth in maturity out of nowhere? We know that he was a child singer, and suffered after his voice changed. But I feel there is an important part of the story missing. Maybe like a good movie there will be flashbacks in the future discussion

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No need for any of that. Yes, there are early works, and no, there are no earlier symphonies. I never said that his talent came "out of nowhere." I said he was a mature composer by the time he wrote his first symphony, and that is true. If you're curious about what he was doing before 1758, there are many online resources to satisfy that curiosity. They are not relevant to this series of videos, although some of those earlier works may make it into other videos where appropriate.

[@maudia27]

No one has paid him before to compose a symphony - so - he did not. It is that simple.

[@jjquinn2004]

Thank-you very much for a wonderful and informative video. I probably have listened to them all over the years, but a few months ago decided to do it more formally, one-by-one (one of several lockdown projects). I'll now start again, using your videos as a guide. I have two sets: the older one by Adam Fisher and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra and the newer one by Decca with various orchestras. For this exercise, I'm listening to the latter.

[@ThreadBomb]

You might want to switch to Fischer for 78-81.

[@frankgyure3154]

I'll have to check out the Decca set you mentioned. I was not aware of it. Probably will buy it. Thank you.

[@johnniebasch8660]

The ongoing disdain for Gardiner's "Bach Pilgrimage" is really amusing. This is already far more entertaining.

[@lehmannudo7284]

Hallo schreibe generell, für Ihr crusade sind die Haydn Sinfonien 66 und 67 bestens geeignet, wer kennt diese Meisterwerke schon?Zeit 1779 kompniert ,wert im Konzertsaal gespielt zu werden-

[@denbigh51]

The pity is that while Haydn’s reputation is high with scholars & the musically knowledgeable, orchestras just don’t programme his music ( with a few exceptions)

[@mdfacp]

I thought Stamic invented the symphony.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Not even close. If you want to get technical, it was one of the Sammartini crew, but that's probably not even correct. No one "invented" it. It evolved.

[@mdfacp]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Thank you. More for me to investigate! Again, great stuff. I'm really glad you've got the channel.

[@DavidNursal2012]

I can't believe this is happening LOL. But I approve

[@maudia27]

My versions: Antonini, Dorati, Fischer, Goodman, Hogwood - very little to choose among them since it is a very "straigh music" - very little space in terms of interpretation. With modern instruments Dorati, for me, has a better full sound around - because he has a better orchestra than Fischer and also more vivid interpretation - a bit more fast. Among the original instruments my vote is for Antonini for sure - more fun - best orchestra and better sound than Goodman and Hogwood. Goodman, in general, has a intrusive continuo harpsichord.

[@carlconnor5173]

I should’ve started here, at #1. But no harm, no foul.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

None at all. You do it in whatever order you want.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

"What made Haydn haydnesque"...great narrative topos!

[@ThreadBomb]

The rep of Haydn's early symphonies isn't helped by the fact that their numbering has little to do with the order in which they were written.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I don't think that's relevant at all.

[@ThreadBomb]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I just mean that it makes the symphonies seem inconsistent in quality where in reality there was a steady increase in sophistication.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@ThreadBomb Gotcha. Thanks for the clarificatioin. No argument there.

[@Tracotel]

A Haydn crusade, great idea! I did not know this Naxos recording, it sounds by far better than Christopher Hogwood's.

[@Tracotel]

@Kanishk Nishar I do not have a favourite set. In overall, I think that Hogwood sounds too superficial and not enough concerned. Concerning the HIP, I love many of Brüggen's, Harnoncourt's and Norrington's performances.

[@ThreadBomb]

@@Tracotel How can you say Hogwood seems too 'superficial' in this symphony which as David admits is only meant to entertain? I'm not saying Hogwood is 'great', but he manages to be pretty good most of the time.

[@ThreadBomb]

@Kanishk Nishar I'm not sure what you mean by "ultra-HIP". Hogwood's sound is pretty standard for a historical instrument approach, and to me is more agreeable than Pinnock, Antonini or Fey.

[@Tracotel]

@@ThreadBomb When I wrote "superficial" and "not concerned", I meant mechanical, not a lot of joy and sense of humour. I never have been satisfied with Hogwood performing Haydn or Mozart. I have frequently the feeling that Hogwood was just doing his homeworks.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Hogwood is generally terrible. Glacially inexpressive and threadbare in sonority.