Repertoire: The Haydn Symphony CRUSADE (No. 8)

The third and last of the trilogy of "time of day" symphonies that Haydn wrote to introduce himself to his new employer, Prince Esterházy, No, 8 "Le Soir" ("Evening") best embodies Mahler's dictum that, "The symphony must be the world. It must embrace everything." This delightful work begins by quoting a comical Gluck aria about tobacco, and ends with a thunderstorm. You don't get much more all-embracing than that!

[@johnniebasch8660]

The Haydn Crusade is the best running series on the internet right now.

[@vinylarchaeologist]

This Haydn Crusade is such a joy to listen to. The weeks cannot go by fast enough :)

[@MegaVicar]

‘Demented phrasing’...a new term for musicologists, maybe.😜 Your enthusiasm for Haydn surpasses any level of excitement in your other videos.

[@peterheiman8621]

Once again a virtuoso presentation worthy of Haydn. Thank you I sense in the second movement an irregularity not only of the phrase sequences, but also within the phrases. In the very first bar, for instance, the third beat is a dominant that resolves to a tonic in the fourth beat. At that point it sounds like it will be in 3/4 time.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Very interesting--thanks for adding this.

[@danielo.masson353]

"From Gluck to Thunder", the symphony per se. I listened before with so much misconceptions and silliness. Marvellous musical exoerience AND critical enlightenment, thanks to you. Thank you for this generosity

[@Shmookcakes]

Best episode so far! I already loved this symphony but your commentary just expanded it so much. I loved your concluding statement as well. Amazing, such a joy :)

[@ABC_Guest]

Le Soir may be my favorite of Haydn's early symphonies! Didn't know the story about "Je n'aimais pas le tabac beaucoup" though - very interesting!

[@frankgyure3154]

Another great video. Thank you.

[@olegroslak852]

Great series, Dave. I eagerly look forward to each instalment. Was wondering if these will ever come with recommendations for the best recording of each work (I realize, of course, that for the early symphonies pickins are rather slim). Or will you be doing "The best recording of Haydn Symphony No. 'x'" as a separate series? Also, as a gentle reminder and/or fan request, now that we've completed Mahler and Bruckner (almost), surely each of the Beethoven symphonies other than 9 will get their own "best recording" talk. Perhaps it will serve as some added incentive to note that your most popular video (11,565 views and counting) is the one for best Beethoven symphony cycles. The fans have spoken!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Recording recommendations will be separate and very selective. I haven't figured out how to do it. Beethoven symphonies will come in due course. I'm not in a rush. I've done about 450 videos already and heaven knows where this is going.

[@olegroslak852]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I'll echo everyone on here to say that we can't say enough about how much we appreciate them. The in depth talks like the Crusade and others manage to convey so much more content than you could hope to get into a 500 word review that I'm happy these are now monopolizing your time. The fact that you essentially "wing it", as you confessed in the most recent episode, makes them all the more remarkable. Whatever we need to do to help you keep them going, just tell us, and consider it done.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@olegroslak852 Thank you. That's very kind.

[@vilebrequin6923]

@@elaineblackhurst1509 great story, Elaine. Isn't Haydn just the perfect tonic for our bleak times?

[@davidaiken1061]

Splendid analysis. Move over Robbins Landon!

[@loganfruchtman953]

Is it coincidental that Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Haydn’s Evenning Symphony are in the same key?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes