Symphony No. 22 in E-Flat Major, “The Philosopher”

Quick Facts

• Written in 1764 during his employment as assistant Kapellmeister at the court of Prince Esterházy in Eisenstadt.¹

About the Piece

• Unlike most symphonies we think of today, Haydn’s “Philosopher” symphony begins with a slow movement that serves as an instrumental choral prelude of sorts.
  • The slow-fast-slow-fast structure ascribed to Baroque-era church sonatas. Despite this archaic foundation, the musical language is distinctively classical.
• The (apocryphal) nickname, “The Philosopher,” was assigned due to its reflective nature, particularly in the first movement, as well as its darker orchestral coloring compared to the composer’s previous symphonic works.²
  • Note – The 1773 revision of the piece was almost certainly not by Haydn and is consequently rarely performed today.³

1. Georg Feder and James Webster, “Haydn, (Franz) Joseph,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed April 17, 2023, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000044593.
2. Matthew Rye, Notes in accompanying booklet, Haydn: Symphonies Nos 22-25 performed by The Hanover Band conducted by Roy Goodman, Helios 55116, 2002, compact disc.
3. Symphony No.22 in E-flat major, Hob.I:22 (Haydn, Joseph), IMSLP, accessed April 17, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.22_in_E-flat_major,Hob.I:22(Haydn,_Joseph).