Relayed from the National Museum of Wales
National Orchestra of Wales
Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru
This Symphony is full of Haydn's inimitable good humour and cheerfulness. It begins with a slow introduction, which seems at first as though it would be a mere flourish of trumpets, but a more melodious section follows. It is in minor. The main quick part of the movement changes to the major, and the first merry tune is given out at once. The Symphony has the unusual feature of making use of the same main tune twice over in its first movement, instead of giving us a new one; there is another tune, but it is not used in the way in which a main second theme usually is.
The slow movement is Haydn at his very best; it is made up very simply of a fine melody which is not really developed, but simply presented in various guises.
The Minuet is at once dainty and vivacious, with a hint of mischief in its emphatic third beat of the bar at the outset, and the Trio, in minor, has only the slightest suggestion of the wistfulness that the minor mode can so often mean.
The last movement is almost boisterous in its good spirits.
