Symphony No. 85 (Haydn) Explained

The Symphony No. 85 in B major, Hoboken I/85, is the fourth of the six Paris symphonies (numbers 82–87) written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as La Reine (The Queen).

Background

See main article: Paris symphonies.

The 85th Symphony was completed in either 1785 or 1786.^[1] It made its way to America early on, at first through a keyboard arrangement such as one played by Nelly Custis at the White House.^[2]

Nickname (La Reine)

The nickname La Reine originated because the work was a favorite of Marie Antoinette, at the time Queen of France.^[3] It is the only one of the Paris symphonies whose nickname is of 18th-century origin.^[4]

Movements

The symphony is in standard four movement form and is scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, and strings.

1. Adagio — Vivace
2. Romance: Allegretto
3. Menuetto

Allegretto

1. Finale: Presto

The first movement contains a reference to Symphony No. 45 “Farewell”.^[5] The second movement is described by H. C. Robbins Landon as "a set of variations on the old French folk-song 'La gentille et jeune Lisette';^[6]

See also

• List of symphonies by name

References

• Robbins Landon, H. C. (1963) Joseph Haydn: Critical Edition of the Complete Symphonies, Universal Edition, Vienna
• Steinberg, Michael (1995) The Symphony: A Listeners Guide. Oxford University Press.
• Harrison, Bernard Haydn: The "Paris" Symphonies (Cambridge University Press, 1998)
• Kirk, Elise K. Music at the White House: A History of the American Spirit (University of Illinois Press, 1986)

Notes and References

1. Robbins Landon 1963, xv
2. Kirk, 1986, 18
3. Steinberg (1995, 204)
4. Bernard Harrison, Haydn: The 'Paris' Symphonies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1998): 101
5. Harrison, 88
6. Robbins Landon 1963, xvii