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Haydn: Surprise, 2nd movement

Form scheme 2nd movement

The 2nd movement is totally based on one melody, a melody consisting of 32 bars. This melody belongs to Haydn’s simplest and most popular song tunes. The elements of the melody are parts of the accompanying chords. The rhythm consists of eighth notes, interrupted by a quarter note at the end of each two-bar unit. All this gives the melody its popularity and naturalness.

bars 1-32

The theme is introduced in the 1st and 2nd violins, then it occurs again in piano but only in the 1st violins. All this explains the powerful effect of the drum beat, a G-major chord of the whole orchestra. The second half of the theme is more flexible, the repetitions are less regular, on its reappearance the 8-bar period is joined by the woodwinds. The 1st variation begins with a second drum beat of the orchestra. The original theme turns up in the 2nd violin, the 1st violin (once also joined by the flute) weaves around the theme.

bars 49-74

The 2nd variation in C minor combines the first 4 bars with the final 4 bars. As the movement is transposed into the minor key, it is also called "minore". The ensuing passage is a free elaboration of the thematic material, primarily the head of the theme. The 3rd variation, again in C major, therefore named "maggiore", uses the theme again in the violin in its original form with the countersubject in the woodwinds. In the 4th and last variation rich instrumentation turns the simple theme into a brilliant march with drums, trumpets and syncopated accompaniment. In the Coda a fanfare-like motif sounds up in the trumpets, the first part of the theme closes the movement in pianissimo.

Turn over to 3rd movement