Two Symphonies by Michael Haydn, Plus a Thanksgiving Bonus

Michael Haydn is still relatively unknown, but he was a talented composer admired by his more famous sibling Joseph and by Wolfgang Mozart, whom he knew well.

Michael wrote 41 symphonies, a corpus little explored until the efforts of such pioneers as conductor Harold Farberman (1929-2018), who set out in the 1980s to record the cycle. While he did not reach his goal - only 17 to my knowledge were ever released - the quality of what he accomplished is impressive.

Most of Farberman's Haydn has been reissued, except for the two symphonies I've transferred for this post, in response to a request.

Michael Haydn

Haydn's Symphony No. 5 dates from 1763, soon after he had assumed a post as court composer in Salzburg, where he was to remain for the next 43 years.

Symphony No. 14 is thought to date from the late 1760s. In his sleeve note, Charles Sherman suggests, "It seems unlikely that Haydn conceived the music as a symphony. From the point of view of style (and particularly that of the Andante with its elaborate solo writing), the four movements probably served first as parts of a larger divertimento or serenade." 

Both No. 5 and 14 were once thought to be the work of his older brother. Parenthetically, if you have ever wondered why there is no Symphony No. 37 by Mozart, it is because the work once identified as such is now known to be Michael Haydn's Symphony No. 25, which does have an introduction by his more famous colleague, thus the confusion.

Harold Farberman

Harold Farberman was a percussionist in the Boston Symphony before pursuing conducting full-time in 1963. He was successively principal guest conductor of the Denver Symphony, music director of the Colorado Springs Symphony and music director of the Oakland Symphony. He recorded all the Ives symphonies and several of those by Mahler, among other works. The noted conductor Marin Alsop was among his students.

This is a first for me, as far as mixes prepared specially for Big Ten Inch Record go. With so little to be thankful for in the current-events present, I thought a Holiday Express to vintage Thanksgivings, where cheery, thankful songs were far more plentiful, might be helpful as a morale booster. When poverty is widespread, there are always the riches of song. 

 

So hop aboard my Dis-Orient Express and listen to toe-tapper and slow dance music of the Jazz Age and Depression Era (plus a couple of stowaways from more recent nostalgia-worthy eras). This music stopped tears and fears and made the moment at hand a reason for handshakes and hugs as well as a sanctuary for friends and strangers, all heading home and arriving to festive aromas and the artful amnesia of family reunion and celebration. You’ll find me by the phonograph spinning pure golden oldies. Bon appetit! Leave at a respectful hour or volunteer to help with cleanup. 

 

Thanks to Radio Dismuke for a special loan of the last song. Two more Holidays Expresses are scheduled to leave - one for Christmas and the others New Years. But first things first.