Plural Sax

Sax Octets

Haydn Symphony No 100 "Military" (3rd mvt)

Franz Josef Haydn, arr. Peter Guthrie

Composed:
1794
Arranged:
1998
Grouping:
SSAATTb
Duration:
05:26

The "Military" symphony was written for Haydn's second London visit in 1794, and was first performed on the 31st March that year. It was received with great enthusiasm, largely because of Haydn's unprecedented use of the bass drum, triangle and cymbals in the second and fourth movements of the symphony, a combination known in the 18th century as "Turkish" or "Military" music. This colourful and noisy feature gave the symphony its nickname.

A London newspaper wrote that "the rapture it gave cannot be communicated by words, to be known it must be heard", while an audience member, whose programme has survived, simply noted "Grand but very loud".

The third movement presents a light, almost whimsical, menuetto. Arranged in 1998.


Cover image
 Score Parts Part index Backing track
© 1998 Peter Guthrie

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