Symphony No.8 In G Major Hob.I

Haydn’s Symphony No.8 is the final piece in his triptych on the times of the day, consisting of the symphonies Le Matin, Le Midi and Le Soir (Hoboken I:6-8). The cycle originated in 1761, on a commission from Haydn’s patron,Prince Anton Esterházy. Whether the Prince was hoping for a counterpart to Vivaldi’s famous concertos on the four seasons or pursued a different idea can no longer be determined.

It was doubtless the purpose of theseconcertante symphonies to present to a select audience the Prince’s chamber ensemble, which had been assembled or expanded that spring, as well as its new conductor. The pieces are laid out on a large scale full of pompandsplendour, and the scoring, at times divided into thirteen separate parts, offers virtually every player an opportunity to display his prowess as a soloist.

At that time the Esterházy ensemble was made up of six or sevenplayers of the violin or viola (the seventh was actually retained as a flautist), one player each of the violoncello and violone, two oboists doubling on flute, two horn players and a bassoonist. This listing includes Haydnhimself, who conducted the ensemble from the first violinist’s desk. Contrary to a widely held belief, there was no harpsichord. Indeed, the only genres that employed a keyboard instrument at that time in the Viennese area werevocal – namely, operas, cantatas and church music.