Symphony No. 48 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 48 in C major, Hoboken I/48, is a symphony by Joseph Haydn written in 1768 or 1769. The work has the nickname Maria Theresa as it was long thought to have been composed for a visit by the Holy Roman Empress, Maria Theresa of Austria in 1773. An earlier copy dated 1769 was later found, but the nickname has stuck.^[1] The symphony composed for the empress's visit was most likely No. 50.^[1][2]

Maria Theresa of Austria, for whom the 48th Symphony is nicknamed

H. C. Robbins Landon has described this symphony as a "great and indeed germinal work." It was one of the very few Haydn symphonies of this period to survive throughout the nineteenth century in various editions.^[3]

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for two oboes, bassoon, two French horns (first, third and last movement in C alto, second movement in F), and strings. Parts for two trumpets and timpani were added later but it is uncertain whether or not these really are by Haydn.^[4] Some copies of the Eulenburg edition include two different timpani parts on the same staff, the more doubtful version differentiated by stems down and written in a facsimile of handwriting.

Movements

1. Allegro, ⁴
   ₄
2. Adagio in F major, ⁶
   ₈
3. Menuet & Trio: Allegretto (Trio in C minor), ³
   ₄
4. Finale: Allegro, ²
   ₂

The first movement "contains a development section more complex than the minor-keyed symphonies of the same period, but not as complex as the C major Fürnberg-Morzin symphonies," and the finale has a "secondary development" in the recapitulation that compensates for the brevity of the actual development.^[5]

Haydn later quoted the opening of the first movement in his "Laudon" Symphony (no. 69).

See also

• List of symphonies by name