Symphony No. 25 (Haydn)

Joseph Haydn

This article is about the symphony by Joseph Haydn. For the symphony by Michael Haydn, see Symphony No. 25 (Michael Haydn).

The Symphony No. 25 in C major, Hoboken I/25, is a symphony by Joseph Haydn.The symphony was most likely composed in 1763, or at the very earliest in 1761, at about the same time as No. 33.^[1][2]

It is scored for 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 horns, strings and continuo,^[3] and unlike most C major symphonies by Haydn lacks trumpets and timpani.^[4] The work is in three movements:

1. Adagio, ⁴
   ₄ — Allegro molto, ²
   ₄
2. Minuetto & Trio, ³
   ₄
3. Presto, ²
   ₄

Unusually among Haydn's symphonies, this work lacks a slow movement, but it is partially compensated by the slow introduction.

References

1. Antony Hodgson, The Music of Joseph Haydn: The Symphonies. London: The Tantivy Press (1976): 202. The chart places No. 25 in 1763, with an arrowhead pointing back to 1761.
2. H. C. Robbins Landon, The Symphonies of Joseph Haydn. London: Universal Edition & Rockliff (1955): 653. Landon casts a wider net, suggesting it could have been written as early as 1760 or as late as 1764.
3. (Landon, 1955): 653. "2 ob., 2 cor., str. [ fag., cemb. ]."
4. (Hodgson, 1976): 63. "Although the key is C major this is not one of the Festive Symphonies: the horn soli in the Trio are modest and tuneful but in no way spectacular."