EDUQAS /
AS Level Resources
Set Work: Haydn’s ‘London’ Symphony /
Jan Richards
WCT Set work / Haydn: ‘London’Symphony No. 104 / Choose a Task
Choose a task based on Movement 1.
Activity A –
Background Information / Activity B –
Structure
Activity C –
Tonality / Activity D –
Texture
Activity E –
Structure / Themes / Activity F –
Thematic development
Activity G –
Harmony / Activity H –
Instrumentation

Activity A – Background Information

This symphony is the twelfth and last of the symphonies specifically composed for a series of concerts in London. It was written in 1795 and first performed in the same year at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket.

Complete the following paragraph by inserting the correct information from the given list.

Haydn (1732-1809) was one of the most important composers of the era
in music, having written at least symphonies illustrating the development
of this genre. After many years in the employment of the family, an
invitation came in 1790 to compose twelve symphonies for London, for the British audiences
that hailed him as the “greatest composer in the world”. He had been contacted by the
German-born violinist Johann Peter who was working as a concert manager in London at that time. Haydn was to be impressed by the rich musical life, the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the very fine, large orchestras there.
As such, he was determined tolive up to expectations, and the resulting are appreciated as thecrowning glory of his prolific work as a symphonic composer. While they show no radical departure from his previous works, there were a number of outstanding features that contribute to their special character. They are works on a
‘grand’ scale, giving a broader presentation of musical ideas, more brilliant utilising often simplistic but effectively appealing thematic materialwith the occasional use of , more use of harmony and more purposeful
content.
In terms of the scoring, Haydn’searliest symphonies were usually written for two oboes, two horns and , though there were exceptions to the rule with occasional use of a flute, and an additional horn.

It was only in these last twelve symphonies that and
were used regularly, with making an appearance in five of the last set of six symphonies.
Symphony No 104 is scored for: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 2 horns in
, two trumpets in D, and strings. The première was extremelysuccessful; and as was usual at the time, Haydn directed the performance himself from a instrument, though his part was not written down in the
.

Activity B – Structure

The first movement is in Sonata Form.
Task 1: Rearrange the section headings in the correct order, then match the sections with the correct bar numbers.
Task 2: In pairs, explain to each other the function of each section within the overall form. Some of these sections are main sections, others subsidiary sections.
[Bar numbers correlate to the Eulenberg Audio + Score edition]
Section / Bar numbers
Development / 65-98
First Subject Section / 193-276
Introduction / 50-64
Exposition / 99-123
Codetta / 1-16
Coda / 124-192
Recapitulation / 17-123
Second Subject Section / 17-49
Transition Passage / 277-294


The correct order would be:

Section / Bar numbers / Function of the Section

Activity C – Tonality

Complete the following paragraph about the key changes in the first part of this movement by inserting the correct information from the given list.

Activity D – Texture

What does the word textureactually mean?

Working in pairs, discuss the meaning of the musical terms listed below.
Now, identify and describe the types of texture found in the sections as indicated by the bar numbers below.
Bar Nos / Identification/description of the texture
1-2
3-6
7-8
17-31
145-9
247-257
277-294

Activity E – Structure / Themes

However, there seem to befour sections in the first movement of Haydn’s 'London' Symphony.

Insert the names of these sections, in the order they are heard in the table below. The first letter of each has been given for you.

I / E / D / R

Within this structure, it is possible to track the main themes as they are presented, developed and then returned.Identify the following melodic ideas and motifs (S1 or S2 etc), state where they are first introduced (section / bar nos.), and in what keys they are heard.

THEME / SECTION / BARS / KEY

Activity F – Thematic development

Describe the musical features of the first subject, and then discuss and note down how the theme has been treated and developed in subsequent passages as indicated.

S1

Musical features: / Treatment/development from bar 124  144:
Treatment/development from bar 172  192

Identify and explain two ways in which contrast has been achieved in the second subject section of the Exposition.

(i)
(ii)

How does Haydn achieve further variety when S2 appears in the Recapitulation section?

Activity G – Harmony

What is a cadence?
(i)Consider the following definitions and decide which is the correct one:
  • - the final chord of a piece of music
  • - the opening progression of chords in a phrase
  • - a progression of (at least) two chords that concludes a
phrase, or piece of music
(ii)There are four main types of cadence. What are they made up of?
Type of Cadence / .....consisting of:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Task 1.Referring to your score of the first movement of the ‘London’ Symphony by Haydn, give bar numbers where the following cadences may be located.

Cadences / Bar numbers / location
Interrupted cadence
Cadence in B minor
Perfect cadence in A
Perfect cadence in E minor
Imperfect cadence in D major

Task 2.Identify the keys, chords, and cadences in the following bars:

Bars / Key / Chords / Cadence
49-50
15-16
155-158
160-163
219-220
264-266

Activity H – Harmony: Chords

When studying the music of the Western Classical Tradition, you must learn and understand about the different types of chords and the way that they are used in a piece of music.

Task 1.Many Western harmonic styles are based on the triads built on each degree of the scale. Using roman numerals, identify the primary triads, the secondary triads, and state their technical name. (The first one has been done for you).

Type of triad / Identification of triad (roman numerals) / Technical name
PRIMARY TRIADS: / I / Tonic
SECONDARY TRIADS

Task 2. Complete the following table, identifying the position of the chord (e.g. 2nd inversion) and giving the accepted figuring (e.g6/4)

Position / Figuring
A chord with the root in the bass is called a ..... / ( ) / ..chord.
A chord with the 3rd in the bass is known as a ..... / ( ) / ..chord.
A chord with the 5th in the bass is called a ...... / ( ) / ..chord.
A chord with the 7th in the bass is called a ..... / ( ) / ..chord.

Task 3.Complete the following sentences by identifying the chords in the first movement of the ‘London’ symphony.

(i)The first chord in bar 3 is......

(ii)The last chord in bar 4 is ......

(iii)The first chord in bar 17 is......

(iv)The last chord in bar 32 is ......

(v)The first chord in bar 44 is......

(vi)The last chord in bar 75 is ......

(vii)The chord in bar 76is......

(viii)The chord in bar 172 is ......

Activity I – Instrumentation

In his 'London' symphonies, Haydn was anxious to create works on a grand scale.

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