Franz Joseph Haydn: Six Divertimenti For Violin: String Trio: Parts

Les nombreux divertimenti pour cordes et vents de Haydn sont de la musique de circonstance d?humeur joyeuse. On connaît mal le contexte de leur composition. Cependant un grand nombre de ces divertimenti sont relativement précoces et datent de l?époque où Haydn se maintenait à flot en composant des ?uvres de commande. C?est d?ailleurs le cas du divertimento en sol majeur Hob. II:9 composé pour la formation inhabituelle comportant deux hautbois deux cors deux violons deux altos et basse continue. Il s?agit vraisemblablement d?une ?uvre de commande des années 1750. Sa vitalité débordante laisse déjà éclater le génie de Haydn.

Originally written for Cello and Piano Haydn’s Divertimento in D is arranged here by Gregor Piatigorsky for Viola and Piano.

Though not nearly as well-known as the 'London Trios ' these six delightful divertimentos are Haydn's first pieces of chamber music to expressly call for the flute. Straightforward and full of Haydn's esprit they are a treasuretrove for all lovers of music-making in the home. The stylistic variety of these cheerful pièces d'occasion surely reflects the fact that they are partly based on earlier models: Haydn's baryton trios as well as arias and otheritems from his opera 'Il mondo della luna' ('The World on the Moon').

String Quartets Book II op. 9-Six works belong to opus 9 the first group of Haydn’s String quartets of which we know. The composer also went new ways as far as form was concerned: whereas he had still adhered to the five movement divertimento inthe previous quartets opus 1 and 2 in this case he favoured four movements something he continued in the future. Apart from this he also expanded the register and experimented with metric surprises (for instance in the trio ofthe minuet from the G major quartet).