Haydn: Symphony No.101, second movement - EdexcelThe impact of Haydn and his compositions
Franz Joseph Haydn composed Symphony No.101 in 1793 during the Classical period. It is likely that the symphony was nicknamed ‘The Clock’ because of the continuous quavers in the second movement.
Haydn and Mozart were good friends and held each other in high regard. Following Haydn, Mozart introduced sonata formA popular structure from the Classical period consisting of an exposition, development and recapitulation. into his symphonic structure, developing the three-movement structure into four movements.
As well as mentoring Mozart, Haydn also taught Beethoven. Beethoven bridged the gap between the Classical period1750 - 1825. and Romantic period1825 - 1900. He pushed musical boundaries and moved away from the Classical structures of Haydn and Mozart’s music.
While having been written over 200 years ago, Haydn’s music is still popular today. His innovative approach to composition has meant his work has stood the test of time. Haydn’s compositions are regularly played in venues across the world.