Haydn Symphony 83 The Hen Sheet Music, Program Notes and recordings

Dramatic Intensity and Comical Wit

Having announced his arrival in Paris with the festive grandeur of Symphony No. 82, "The Bear," Joseph Haydn followed it with a work of a dramatically different character. Symphony No. 83 in G minor, the second of the "Paris" Symphonies to be published, is a powerful and passionate work that revisits the dark, emotional intensity of his earlier Sturm und Drang period. Yet, in a masterful stroke of wit, Haydn injects a moment of pure comedy into the heart of the drama, a gesture that so charmed the Parisian public that they nicknamed the symphony "La Poule" (The Hen). This delightful work is a study in contrasts, a testament to Haydn’s supreme confidence as a composer, capable of seamlessly blending fiery, minor-key passion with the light, humorous touch that was his inimitable signature.

A Return to Sturm und Drang

The commission to compose for the large and virtuosic Parisian orchestra, the Concert de la Loge Olympique, clearly invigorated Haydn. It not only inspired him to write on a grander scale but also to revisit expressive worlds he had not explored for several years. The choice of G minor for this symphony was a bold one. This was the key he, and later Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, reserved for works of high drama, passion, and pathos. The Parisian audience, perhaps expecting another bright, ceremonial work, would have been immediately struck by the symphony’s turbulent and emotionally charged opening, a clear sign that Haydn was a composer of immense expressive range.

The Famous "Hen"

The nickname, like so many others, comes not from the composer but from the audience's reaction, and it refers to a specific moment in the first movement. Following the stormy, agitated main theme in G minor, the music unexpectedly shifts to a cheerful major key. The first oboe then enters with a jaunty, staccato melody, with each note preceded by a quick, grace-note "peck. " The effect was undeniably comical, and to the Parisian listeners, it sounded exactly like a clucking hen. This moment of barnyard humor, appearing in the midst of such a dramatic movement, is a classic Haydnesque joke and a brilliant piece of musical characterization.

First Movement: Allegro spiritoso

The symphony opens with a tense and fiery theme in G minor, driven by insistent, dotted rhythms. The mood is one of dramatic urgency and passionate intensity, immediately recalling the power of Haydn's earlier Sturm und Drang works. This stormy passage is then brilliantly subverted by the arrival of the comical "hen" theme in the oboe. The rest of the movement is a masterful interplay between these two contrasting ideas—the dramatic and the comic. In a typical gesture of optimism, the movement ultimately resolves in G major, allowing the sunshine to break through the clouds.

Second Movement: Andante

The Andante is a movement of sublime and serene beauty. Scored for a smaller orchestra without horns, it has a delicate, chamber-like transparency. The main theme is a simple, graceful, and deeply expressive melody, presented by the strings. Haydn develops this theme with subtle and elegant variations, creating a mood of calm and lyrical contemplation. It is a moment of pure, unclouded grace, a peaceful interlude that provides a perfect contrast to the drama of the first movement and the energy of the movements to come.

Third Movement: Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio

The Minuet is surprisingly gentle and elegant for a minor-key work. While it is cast in G minor, it lacks the severity of his earlier Sturm und Drang minuets. Its character is more of a graceful, slightly melancholy dance. The central Trio section, in the bright key of G major, provides a cheerful and rustic contrast. It features a charming, folk-like melody, led by the flute and first violins, that has the character of a graceful country dance, or Ländler.

Fourth Movement: Finale – Vivace

The Finale is a brilliant and energetic conclusion in G major. The movement is built on a vibrant, dance-like theme that is full of high spirits and infectious joy. Haydn crafts the movement as a sophisticated hybrid of sonata and rondo form, showcasing his absolute mastery of musical structure. The music is a whirlwind of activity, propelled by a driving, almost giddy rhythm. It is a work of pure, unadulterated cheerfulness, bringing the symphony to a brilliant and thoroughly satisfying close and leaving behind the dark passions of the opening for a final, triumphant affirmation of major-key optimism.

A Symphony of Surprising Contrasts

Symphony No. 83, "The Hen," is a remarkable work that showcases the immense breadth of Haydn’s mature style. It demonstrates his ability to write music of both powerful, driving drama and light, infectious humor, often within the same movement. Its combination of minor-key intensity and comical wit, of sophisticated structure and popular appeal, made it a triumph in Paris and has ensured its place as one of the most beloved and entertaining of all his symphonies.