Symphony No. 20 (Haydn)


The Symphony No. 20 in C major is a festive symphony by Joseph Haydn. Hodgson places the composition date in either 1761 or 1762 while Brown states that it was likely composed before 1761.
Calvin Stapert affirmatively states that it was composed in the group of 15 symphonies within Haydns tenure with Count Morzin. And is festive, like C major Symphonies 32, 33, and 37.
It is scored for 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings and continuo. The symphony is in four movements:
  1. Allegro molto,
  2. Andante cantabile, in G major
  3. Minuetto & Trio, F major
  4. Presto,
The winds are silent in the serenade-like second movement with the melody in the first violins, broken chords in the second violins and a pizzicato bassline.