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Haydn · Joseph Haydn

Haydn Symphony No. 100 in G major, "Military"

Triangle, cymbals, and bass drum march right in

Key
G major
Composed
1794
Premiere
1794 London
Duration
about 25 min
Movements
4 movements
Instrumentation
Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 · Brass 2·2·0·0 · Timpani · Percussion (triangle, cymbals, bass drum) · Strings

The story behind this piece

Haydn wrote this in 1793–94 for his second visit to London, and he premiered it on March 31, 1794, at the Hanover Square Rooms in London, leading from the fortepiano.

The nickname "Military" comes from the second movement. The triangle, cymbals, and bass drum, which were then thought of as the sound of a "Turkish" military band, suddenly cut in and turn the march into something menacing. This movement captivated audiences and made the symphony one of the most popular of the London symphonies. One critic of the day described the passage as "the horrid din of war."

What to listen for

  • 2nd movement: the moment the percussion first enters over the simple march melody
  • End of the 2nd movement: trumpets sound a military bugle call, followed by a timpani roll
  • End of the 4th movement: the "Turkish" percussion that sat out the 1st and 3rd movements returns for a rousing finish

Listen · Score

Credits