Symphony No. 85 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 85 in B flat major (Hoboken 1/85) is the fourth of the six "Paris" symphonies (numbers 82-87) written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as La Reine ("The Queen").

According to H. C. Robbins Landon [Robbins Landon 1963, xv] , the 85th Symphony was completed in either 1785 or 1786. It is in standard four movement form and is scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, and strings.

The nickname La Reine originated because the work was a favorite of Marie Antoinette, at the time Queen of France. [Steinberg (1995, 204)] [Ethan Mordden, "A Guide to Orchestral Music: The Handbook for Non-Musicians". New York: Oxford University Press (1980): 82. "The subtitle refers to Marie Antoinette, who was said to adore this swank piece, written for Paris."] It is the only one of the Paris symphonies whose nickname is of 18th century origin [Harrison, 101] .

The four movements are marked as follows:

*I. Adagio-Vivace
*II. Romance: Allegretto
*III. Menuetto: Allegretto
*IV. Finale: Presto

The first movement contains a reference to Symphony No. 45. [Bernard Harrison, "Haydn: The 'Paris' Symphonies". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1998): 88] 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' [Robbins Landon 1963, xvii] ; see Haydn and folk music.

Notes

ee 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)