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 these concertante 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 pomp andsplendour 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 seven players 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 Haydn himself 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 were vocal - namely operas cantatas and church music.Urtext from Joseph Haydn WerkeFull score & parts (BA4673) available for sale
Sinfonie Nr. 8 - Le Soir
