Military and Clock

Dear Friends,

Those who have followed my posts in this part will by now know that I am fonder of Haydn's Symphonies than those of his friend Mozart. The opposite situation exists, of course in the matter of concertos!

But where do do you find performances of Haydn that are as fine as those regularly devoted to Mozart? Well the answer to that is that great Haydn playing is much rarer than great Mozart playing, but it certainly exists.

Today I found two of Haydn's Symphonies, the Clock (101) and the Military (100) on BBC Legends where Eugen Jochum leads the LPO in a live RFH concert which is just splendid. One would not begin to guess that at the time Jochum was a very old man, or given the absense of slips that this is a live concert. But the readings are earthy, robust, and most of all deeply satisfying at bringing out Haydn game sense of wit - both the humourous and wise implications. Essentially they underline the sunny disposition of the music. The playing finds quite quick tempi that never sound rushed or forced but taking the excitement of the music as its cue.

It is not to be forgotten that Haydn invented the Scherzo, not Beethoevn, who simply invented the name. For Haydn these late Minuets and Trios were to be taken rather faster than a true minuet, which is a stately dance [usually about 100 crochets per minute], and symphonically the greatest example of the old style may, perhaps, be found in the Jupiter Symphony of Mozart, but Haydn, in the mid 1790s was alread more modern than time allowed Mozart to be even in his last Symphonic compositions.

The point is not lost on Jochum who certain makes these dance along at a most satisfying one in a bar! Certainly he may shake some dust out of the old music along the way, but some may share my view that this is a wonderful characterisation what what is implied in the Music. It is faster than Davis (Philips) and Beecham begins to sound rather stately in the style after this! Mind Beecham has unique insights, not so easily dismissed.

I really want to highlight this issue, as it seems much to good to miss, and many who are not conversant with Haydn's music, and may consider the Brucknerian Jochum a rather unlikely exponent, will likely as not pass over it. Please do not, but obtain it. I believe DG have the full set of London Symphonies out under Jochum at present. The concerts and recording were concurrent.

All the best from Fredrik

PS: Wrong place. Please reply in the Music room!