Haydn · Joseph Haydn
Haydn Symphony No. 103 in E-flat major, "Drumroll"
The timpani opens alone with a rumble
- Key
- E♭ major
- Composed
- 1795
- Premiere
- 1795 London
- Duration
- about 30 min
- Movements
- 4 movements
- Instrumentation
- Woodwinds 2·2·2·2 · Brass 2·2·0·0 · Timpani · Strings
The story behind this piece
Haydn wrote this in 1795, during his second stay in London. The nickname "Drumroll" was given by later generations, not Haydn; it comes from the way the piece opens with a long roll played by the timpani alone. Today some performances have the timpanist embellish this opening like a cadenza.
The second movement is built on alternating variations of a minor-key theme and a major-key theme. It is said that both themes came from folk songs, but opinions differ on exactly where they came from.
What to listen for
- First bar of the 1st movement: a timpani solo roll. Then the low strings and bassoons play a dark introductory melody
- Near the end of the 1st movement: the slow introduction returns once more before a fast finish
- 4th movement: a short horn call keeps recurring, overlapping with the violin theme
Listen · Score
Credits
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._103_(Haydn)
- www.hollywoodbowl.com/musicdb/pieces/3917/symphony-no-103-in-e-flat-drumroll
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_symphonies_by_Joseph_Haydn
- wiki.krisyotam.com/content/wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2026-03/London_Symphonies
- bibliotheques.paris.fr/doc/SYRACUSE/93725
- www.theford.com/musicdb/pieces/3919/symphony-no-103-drum-roll
- research.allclassical.org/composer/haydn-joseph/symphony-no-103-in-e-flat-major-drumroll/