Symphony No.48 in C major (Maria Theresia) (Hob.I:48) (Full Score)

Haydn Symphony No.48 in C major (Maria Theresia) (Hob.I:48) (Full Score)

Neither the impetus for Haydn to compose the Symphony in C major Hob.I:48 nor the date of its composition are known.  No documents with regard to it have come down to us and even the autograph score in Haydn's hand is lost.  Instead of verifiable facts, speculation abounds, as is often the case with Haydn.  As early as the 19th century, the symphony was linked, because of its name "Maria Theresia", by the Haydn biographer Carl Ferdinand Pohl, to the empress' visit to the Eszterhaza palace in 1773.  The work was considered to have been performed in the presence of the monarch on this occasion.  Thus, H. C. Robbins Landon and Anthony van Hoboken based their assumptions that Haydn had composed the work specifically for this visit.

This conjecture was proved wrong in the mid-1960s with the discovery of a manuscript set of parts in Slovakia dated 1769 and written out in the hand of Joseph Elssler, a copyist at the Esterhazy court.  It is unclear whether the date indicates the year of acquisition or performance, or possibly even the year of composition.  In view of this date we can rule out that the symphony was composed later than 1769.  The possibility remains, however, that Haydn arranged for a repeat performance of the work on the occasion of the imperial visit.

The publication of Haydn’s “Sturm und Drang” Symphonies – the Farewell Symphony and Symphony No.48 (the so-called “Maria Theresia” Symphony) – represents a continuation of the cooperation between Bärenreiter and the Henle publishing company for editions of larger choral works, operas and symphonic works.

The publications are based on the Henle “Complete Edition of the Works of Joseph Haydn”.

- Urtext of the Joseph Haydn Works

- Full score & parts (BA10972) available for sale