Symphony No. 22 in E-flat (“The Philosopher”)

• Haydn, Franz Joseph

Written in 1764 during composer’s long employment with the benign Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy, the subtitle “The Philosopher” does not appear on the manscript of this earlier Haydn symphony, and was unlikely to have been added by the composer himself, though it was found on a manuscript in Modena dated 1790, so it was at least dated from Haydn’s own lifetime. Regardless of who came up with it, the title is likely to have derived from the question and answer between the horns and English horns in the first movement and the tick-tock effect that evokes an image of a philsopher in deep thought. The work is unique in the orchestra literature for scoring two English horns, but no oboes. The original version from 1764 is structured as a standard 4-movement work, though a version from 1773, referred to as the Venier version, includes only 3. This seldom performed 2nd version is likely not by Haydn at all. Instrumentation details: 0.0+EH(2).0.0: 2.0.0.0: Str(4-4-3-3-3 in set).

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• A155801 / 36-A155801 SYMPHONY NO. 22 “PHILOSOPHER” FS $10.00Buy Now
• A155802 / 36-A155802 SYMPHONY NO. 22 “PHILOSOPHER” SC/PTS $65.00Buy Now