Symphony No. 85 (Haydn)

Marie Antoinette, the queen for whom the 85th Symphony is nicknamed

The Symphony No. 85 in B♭ major, Hoboken I/85, is the fourth of the six Paris symphonies (numbers 82–87) written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as La Reine (The Queen).

Background

Main article: Paris symphonies

The 85th Symphony was completed in either 1785 or 1786. It made its way to America early on, at first through a keyboard arrangement such as one played by Nelly Custis at the White House.

Nickname (La Reine)

The nickname La Reine originated because the work was a favorite of Marie Antoinette, at the time Queen of France. It is the only one of the Paris symphonies whose nickname is of 18th-century origin.

Movements

The symphony is in standard four movement form and is scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, and strings.

1. Adagio — Vivace
2. Romance: Allegretto
3. Menuetto: Allegretto
4. Finale: Presto

The first movement contains a reference to Symphony No. 45 “Farewell”. The second movement is described by H. C. Robbins Landon as "a set of variations on the old French folk-song 'La gentille et jeune Lisette';

See also

• List of symphonies by name

References

• Robbins Landon, H. C. (1963) Joseph Haydn: Critical Edition of the Complete Symphonies, Universal Edition, Vienna
• Steinberg, Michael (1995) The Symphony: A Listeners Guide. Oxford University Press.
• Harrison, Bernard Haydn: The "Paris" Symphonies (Cambridge University Press, 1998)
• Kirk, Elise K. Music at the White House: A History of the American Spirit (University of Illinois Press, 1986)