High Drama and Theatrical Wit
The story is one of the most beloved in all of classical music. The year was 1772, and Prince Nikolaus Esterházy’s court had lingered for an unusually long time at Eszterháza, his magnificent but remote summer palace. The court musicians, under the direction of Joseph Haydn, had been forced to leave their wives and families behind in Eisenstadt for the entire season and were now growing anxious and homesick as autumn approached. Rather than risk the Prince’s displeasure with a direct complaint, the ever-inventive Haydn embedded his petition within his art. He composed the "Farewell" Symphony, a work whose now-legendary finale saw the musicians departing the stage one by one, a poignant and unmistakable piece of musical theater. The symphony is the absolute pinnacle of Haydn’s Sturm und Drang period, a work that combines fiery, passionate drama with a moment of inspired, humane, and unforgettable wit.
The Apex of Sturm und Drang
Symphony No. 45 represents the culmination of Haydn’s "Storm and Stress" period, a phase characterized by intense emotionalism, dramatic contrasts, and a preference for dark, minor keys. The symphony is filled with the hallmarks of this style: nervous, driving rhythms, jagged melodic contours, and a sense of breathless, almost desperate energy. It is arguably the most passionate and personal symphony Haydn had composed up to that point, a work of profound artistic depth that perfectly set the stage for its revolutionary conclusion.
The Rarest of Keys: F-sharp minor
Haydn’s choice of F-sharp minor for this symphony was a radical and highly symbolic gesture. It was an extremely rare key for the period, difficult to play for string instruments and possessing a uniquely bleak and remote sonority for the valveless wind instruments of the day. This choice of a dark, unsettling, and unfamiliar tonal landscape immediately signals to the listener that they are entering a world of intense and unusual emotional expression. It perfectly captures the melancholy and anxiety of the homesick musicians.
First Movement: Allegro assai
The symphony opens with a downward-arpeggio theme in the minor key, creating an immediate sense of urgency and foreboding. The music is turbulent and breathless, propelled by insistent, syncopated rhythms and stark dynamic shifts. This is music of high drama and conflict, a true "storm and stress" Allegro that establishes the symphony's deeply emotional and unsettled character from its very first notes.
Second Movement: Adagio
Following the storm of the first movement, the Adagio, in the serene key of A major, offers a period of profound and tranquil beauty. Scored for muted strings, the movement is a long, unfolding song of gentle melancholy and tender longing. The mood is one of quiet, introspective sadness, perhaps reflecting the musicians' yearning for their distant families. It is a movement of sublime and sustained lyricism, one of Haydn’s most beautiful early slow movements.
Third Movement: Menuetto e Trio: Allegretto
The Minuet returns to the bleak home key of F-sharp minor. Like other minuets from this period, it is far from a courtly dance. It is severe, grim, and rhythmically taut, with an almost gothic, archaic feel due to its use of canons between the upper and lower strings. The central Trio, in the brighter key of F-sharp major, provides a brief, hopeful interlude, led by the noble sound of the horns. This fleeting moment of warmth is soon extinguished by the return of the severe and somber Minuet.
Fourth Movement: Finale – Presto and Adagio
The Finale begins as a typical Sturm und Drang conclusion, a fiery Presto of relentless, almost manic energy. It is a whirlwind of activity, bringing the symphony’s passionate drama to a fever pitch. But then, just as it seems to be racing towards a furious conclusion, the music comes to an unexpected, grinding halt. What follows is the famous "Farewell" Adagio. The key shifts to a warm A major, and a new, gentle theme emerges. After a short time, the first oboe and second horn finish their parts and leave the stage. Soon, they are followed by other players—the bassoon, the second oboe, the first horn. The orchestral texture becomes progressively thinner and more transparent as basses, cellos, and violas depart, until only two solo muted violins remain. They play a final, ethereal duet that hangs in the air before bringing the symphony to a hushed and poignant close.
An Immortal Masterpiece
The "Farewell" Symphony is a work of genius on every level. It is a powerful and emotionally gripping example of the Sturm und Drang style, and at the same time, it is a brilliantly effective and witty piece of theater. The final Adagio is not merely a gimmick; it is a beautifully composed and genuinely moving piece of music that transforms a practical plea into a profound statement about community, departure, and solitude. It remains Haydn’s most famous symphony and a timeless testament to his humanity, his ingenuity, and his unparalleled ability to touch the heart.
