- Symphony No. 64 (Haydn)
The Symphony No. 64 in
A major (Hoboken I/64) is asymphony byJoseph Haydn . It is often known by the nickname Tempora mutantur.Date of composition and scoring
The symphony was composed by 1775 or possibly a year or two earlier. It is scored for two
oboe s, two horns and strings.Nickname (Tempora mutantur)
The nickname is Haydn's own. On the orchestra parts prepared for this symphony at
Esterházy , he placed the heading "Tempora mutantur, et.". The full version of this quote is "Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis," and it is a traditionalLatin adage .Haydn likely knew this in the formQuote|"Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis." "Quomodo? Fit semper tempore peior homo."which translates toQuote|The times change, and we change with them. How? As they become worse, so do we.by John Owen, from his popular collection of "Epigrammata" published in
1615 . [Steinberg, Michael. "The Symphony: a listeners guide". p. 202-204. Oxford University Press, 1995.]Movements
*I. Allegro con spirito
*II. Largo
*III. Menuetto & Trio: Allegretto
*IV.Finale : PrestoThe likely date of composition puts it firmly in the
Sturm und Drang period that produced masterpieces such as symphonies 44 to 48. The opening Allegro con spirito is typically robust and serious with the themes drifting into minor mode at certain points and with a wide range of dynamics. The scoring is wonderfully transparent, with the horn parts high enough to add brilliance. The Largo as so often in this period has muted strings. Its broad melody is punctuated by frequent short pauses, demonstrating an understated pleading and yearning quality which is so typical of Haydn. We are tricked into thinking the movement is for strings alone until the wind instruments interject powerfully half way through.The end of the movement is particularly effective with the first horn right at the bottom of its register and the second horn taking the melody from the violins. The mood changes to light and cheerful for the minuet and trio, while the final Presto is in the form of a Rondo.References
See also
*
List of symphonies by name
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