Symphony No. 91 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 91 in E-flat major, Hoboken 1/91, is written by Joseph Haydn. It was completed in 1788 as part of a three-symphony commission by Comte d'Ogny for the Concerts de la Loge Olympique.^[1] It is occasionally referred to as The Letter T referring to an older method of cataloguing Haydn's symphonic output.

The autograph manuscript bears a dedication to D'Ogny, but Haydn also gave Prince Krafft Ernst von Oettingen-Wallerstein a copy as if it were an original.^[2]

Movements

The work is in standard four movement form and scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, continuo (harpsichord) and strings. It is the last symphony that Haydn composed that is not scored for trumpets and timpani.

1. Largo - Allegro assai
2. Andante
3. Minuet
4. Vivace

The first movement opens with a slow introduction which Haydn works into the opening allegro assai. The Allegro's first theme is derived from an idea Haydn used in his cantata Arianna a Naxos, Hob. XXVIa/2, composed the same year. The theme is chromatic, legato and in two-part inverted counterpoint.^[3] The second theme is dancelike. Both the themes are closely linked with the opening largo.

The slow movement consists of a set of three variations on a theme. Listen to the bassoon and the accompanying string filigree in the first variation and the series of trills near the end of the movement.

The minuet includes a trio in the bassoon accompanied by plucked strings.

The finale opens quietly and builds gradually to a close.

Notes

1. Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 232-233 (2002).
2. p. 351, Heartz (2009) Daniel. New York. Mozart, Haydn and Early Beethoven: 1781 — 1802 W. W. Norton & Co.
3. Brown, A. Peter, The Symphonic Repertoire (Volume 2). Indiana University Press (ISBN 025333487X), pp. 237-239 (2002).

References

• Robbins Landon, H. C. (1963) Joseph Haydn: Critical Edition of the Complete Symphonies, Universal Edition, Vienna