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- The nickname comes from an arrangement of the piece made in the late 19th century by the German violinist August Wilhelmj, who transposed the music down a tone, from D major to C major, and then shifted the melody down an octave, so that the whole thing could be played without leaving the G string.
limelight-arts.com.au/features/classical-musics-most-famous-nicknames-explained/Classical music’s most famous nicknames explained - Limelight
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While most symphonies have a number, many symphonies are known by their (nick)name. This article lists symphonies that are numbered and have an additional nickname, and symphonies that are primarily known by their name and/or key.
- “Surprise”
- “Oxford”
- “London”
- “Bear”
- “Hen”
- “Miracle”
- “Morning”
- “La Reine”
- “Maria Theresia”
- “Clock”
The Symphony No. 94 is so famous that the “Surprise” really isn’t a surprise anymore. Composed during Haydn’s first visit to England, Haydn conducted the premiere at the Hanover Square Rooms in London in March 1792. I’ve long heard the anecdote that Haydn had wanted to startle an inattentive and sleeping audience into paying attention. The “Surpris...
A number of Haydn symphonies carry nicknames that identify a particular geographic location or place. When I listened to the “Oxford” I half expected to find some musical references to this city dominated by the 38 colleges of its prestigious university. Truth be told, I couldn’t hear anything of that sort, and the nickname “Oxford” has its origin ...
The 12 Symphonies that Haydn wrote for his two journeys to England are commonly known as the “London Symphonies.” The last of these 12 symphonies, the Symphony No. 104, however, also carries the nickname “London”. This seems a bit confusing, but the symphony nickname apparently is derived from the last movement of the work. We hear a soft drone in ...
Let’s turn to two symphonies that are nicknamed after animals, the Symphony No. 82 in C major nicknamed the “Bear,” and the Symphony No. 83 in G minor nicknamed the “Hen.” Haydn was in great demand as a symphony composer, and the Count d’Ogny commissioned a set of six symphonies from Haydn for the concerts organized by the “Olympique” Lodge of the ...
The companion symphony to the “Bear,” is the Symphony No. 83 nicknamed the “Hen.” Haydn originally intended this symphony as the third piece in the cycle of Paris Symphonies. Haydn did have a wicked sense of humour, and he certainly knew that he was composing for a musically sophisticated crowd in Paris. The opening movement begins in a highly dram...
When I saw the nickname “Miracle” attached to Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, I was originally thinking that it might have some religious significance. But when I actually listened to this piece, I could not hear anything remotely religious. As it turns out, the nickname actually refers to something that happened in King’s Theatre on 2 February 1795. The ...
While the “Miracle” can’t actually be heard in the music, the “Morning” in Symphony No. 6 is readily apparent. Haydn spent nearly 30 years in service to the princes Esterházy. He later wrote to his biographer, “my employer was satisfied with everything I produced; I received applause and praise; as the Director of the orchestra I was allowed to exp...
The nickname “La Reine” (The Queen) might actually refer to a number of regal monarchs. However, when we learn that it was written for Paris the queen in question was no other than Marie Antoinette. The commission for the six “Paris Symphonies” carried a substantial financial stipend. For each symphony, Haydn received the equivalent of 225 gulden, ...
The nickname “Maria Theresia” makes reference to the Habsburg Holy Roman Empress and mother to Maria Antonia, later to become Marie Antoinette. In 1773, Maria Theresia visited the Eszterháza family estate. Prince Nicholas gave her a regal welcome, and built a small mansion for the Empress where the garden entertainment took place. A cute anecdote r...
We are almost out of time, and Haydn’s “Clock” Symphony seems a perfect composition to finish this article. It was the ninth of his twelve “London” symphonies, and premiering on 3 March 1794. The audience was enthusiastic, and the press highly complementary. A press report reads, “As usual the most delicious part of the entertainment was a new gran...
Sep 15, 2011 · If you’ve ever pondered the origins of the most famous nicknames in classical music — Mahler’s Resurrection, Schubert’s Trout Quintet, Dvorák’s New World Symphony and other warhorses with catchy monikers — explore the pages that follow to unravel the mysteries of how these works were christened and why the names stuck.
The Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World", Op. 95, B. 178 (Czech: Symfonie č. 9 e moll "Z nového světa"), also known as the New World Symphony, was composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893 while he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America from 1892 to 1895.
Jun 4, 2024 · This list delves into 15 of the most famous symphonies, each representing a significant milestone in the evolution of the form. We’ll embark on a historical journey, exploring the unique character and impact of each masterpiece. 15 Best Symphonies. 1. Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (1808)
Jul 9, 2020 · So much so, in fact, that six of the twelve symphonies soon received a nickname from various sources, none of which were Haydn himself. Today, all six are still widely referred to by their monikers—the “Surprise” Symphony, the “Military” Symphony, the “Clock” Symphony, to name just a few.
Mar 26, 2016 · With rare exceptions, the four movements of a symphony conform to a standardized pattern. The first movement is brisk and lively; the second is slower and more lyrical; the third is an energetic minuet (dance) or a boisterous scherzo (“joke”); and the fourth is a rollicking finale.
