Joseph Haydn

Abschieds-Sinfonie

Joseph Haydn composed his Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, known as the Farewell Symphony (Abschieds-Symphonie), in 1772 for his patron, Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, while he, Haydn and the court orchestra were at the Prince's summer palace in Eszterháza. The stay there had been longer than expected, and most of the musicians had been forced to leave their wives back at home in Eisenstadt, so in the last movement of the symphony, Haydn subtly hinted to his patron that perhaps he might like to allow the musicians to return home. Several of the musicians are given little solos to play, after which they snuff out the candle on their music stand and take their leave; other musicians leave without solos. This last movement of the symphony is arranged for a small wind ensemble by Italian arranger Matteo Firmi.