Joseph Haydn / Divertimento (Cassation) in G major, Hob. II:2

Описание: Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Divertimento (Cassation) for 2 violins, 2 violas & bass in G major, Hob. II:2 (1753/4)

00:00 - Scherzo. Presto
01:22 - Allegro moderato
06:07 - Menuet
10:30 - Adagio
12:42 - Menuet
16:37 - Finale. Presto

Haydn Sinfonietta Wien, dir. Manfred Huss (1995)

"Of all the early divertimenti, the G major work Hob. II:2 is the only surviving composition without wind instruments. However, it is only fair to point out that Haydn's first 12 string quartets (now numbered Op. 1 and Op. 2, Hob. III:1-12) were originally entitled 'cassation' or 'divertimento', and follow the same five-movement plan as most of the other divertimenti. And by the same token, the two Divertimenti Hob. II:21 and 22 (originally with 2 horns) were published as string quartets in Haydn's lifetime (Hob. III:9 and 11). According to modern terminology, Hob. II:2 is actually a 'string quintet', i.e. a five-part composition: though of course what the question poses itself as to what instrument Haydn meant by 'basso' -- a cello alone, a violone, or both? [Here,] we decided in favor of the last of these three alternatives, since it produces the most balanced sound. In some respects, this divertimento could almost be the twin brother of the G major work Hob. II:9: there is a striking resemblance between the slow movements and between the second minuet in each case, but in the cassation Hob. II:2 the trio is a fully-composed piece of 'thunderstorm music'. Haydn's marking 'Grazioso' at the beginning of this minuet is clearly intended to create a marked contrast in mood between the minuet (the calm before the storm) and the trio (the storm breaks), which is underscored by the opposition of major and minor keys." - Manfred Huss (trans. Clive Williams)

Painting: Vanitas [detail], Adriaan Coorte