Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"

E284786

Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise" is a famous symphony by Joseph Haydn, renowned for its sudden loud chord in the otherwise soft second movement that gives the work its nickname.

All labels observed (4)

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf orchestral work
symphony
alsoKnownAs Haydn's Surprise Symphony
Surprise Symphony
approximatePremiereYear 1792
belongsToCycle London symphonies
linked to: London Symphonies
catalogNumber Hob. I:94
composer Joseph Haydn
countryOfPremiere Kingdom of Great Britain
dedicatedTo London audience
finaleForm sonata form
firstMovementForm sonata form
genre Classical symphony
hasCharacteristic dynamic contrasts
humorous effect
thematic development
hasInfluencedRepertoire standard orchestral repertoire
hasMovement I. Adagio – Vivace assai
II. Andante
III. Menuetto: Allegro molto
IV. Finale: Allegro di molto
historicalContext first London visit of Joseph Haydn
influenced later symphonic humor and surprise effects
intendedVenue public concert
isFrequentlyRecorded yes
key G major
languageOfTitle German
movementCount 4
nicknameOrigin sudden loud chord in the second movement
notableFeature sudden fortissimo chord in an otherwise soft second movement
numberInSet 94
orchestration classical orchestra
partOf Haydn's London symphonies
linked to: Haydn symphonies
period Classical period
placeOfPremiere London
linked to: London, England
popularFor memorable second movement
use of sudden dynamics
secondMovementForm theme and variations
secondMovementKey C major
style Haydn late symphonic style
tonalCenter G major
typicalPerformanceDuration about 25 minutes
usesInstrumentation brass
strings
timpani
woodwinds
workNumberWithinLondonSymphonies second of the London symphonies
workTitleInGerman Sinfonie Nr. 94 G-Dur "Mit dem Paukenschlag"

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Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Joseph Haydn notableWork Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"
Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise" alsoKnownAs Haydn's Surprise Symphony
linked to: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"
Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise" workTitleInGerman Sinfonie Nr. 94 G-Dur "Mit dem Paukenschlag"
linked to: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"
London Symphonies containsWork Symphony No. 94 in G major
linked to: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"
London Symphonies nicknameOfContainedWork Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"