Classical
Baroque
Classical
Romantic
20th century
21st century
Solo repertoire
Piccolo
Alto flute
Bass flute
Haydn Franz Joseph
Beethoven, Ludwig van
Devienne, François
Gluck, Christoph Willibald
Graf, Friedrich Hartmann
Grétry, André Ernest Modeste
Haydn, Franz Joseph
Hoffmeister, Franz Anton
Hummel, Johann Nepomuk
Jadin, Louis-Emmanuel
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Müller, August Eberhard
Reicha, Josef
Romberg, Bernhard
Rosetti, Francesco Antonio
Schwindel, Friedrich
Stamitz, Anton
Stamitz, Carl Philipp
Concerto for flute and orchestra in D Major (VIIf: D1)
F.J. Haydn: flute concerto in D Major (Hob.VII:1) was written in the early 1760s. It was attributed to Haydn by Leopold Hofmann since none of Haydn's woodwind concertos were published or performed during the composer's lifetime. Most likely that the flute concerto was written for Franz Sigel who played in Haydn's orchestra around the 1760s.
In the middle of the 20th century some music researchers insisted that the central theme of the first movement has no resemblance or similarity to Haydn’s catalogue’s incipit theme, and, because the work was “in the manner of Haydn” and pleasantly agreeable to music critics, it remained attributed to Haydn.
However, some meticulous research uncovered several obtuse indications that the Concerto was composed by Haydn’s rival, the composer Leopold Hoffmann. Ironically that Viennese composer Hofmann was strongly detested by Haydn during his lifetime (Haydn's Letters).
According to Eusebius Mandyczewski (1857-1929), the highly regarded Romanian musicologist and composer in Vienna:
“In Haydn’s time, much more works were attributed to him than agreed and ascribed to others than to the fiery, so quickly popular Haydn, and his name may have had the best chance of dissemination!"
Interestingly that none of Hofmann’s concertos were published during his lifetime (he died in 1793). However, in 1836 Breitkopf und Härtel published 15 flute concertos by Leopold Hofmann.
Umea Symphony Orchestra, Thord Svedlund (conductor), 2010, Intim Musik
1. Allegro moderato
Umea Symphony Orchestra, Thord Svedlund (conductor), 2010, Intim Musik
2. Adagio
Umea Symphony Orchestra, Thord Svedlund (conductor), 2010, Intim Musik
3. Allegro molto
Haydn ensemble Berlin, Hansjorg Schöllenberger (conductor), 1998, EMI Classics
1. Allegro moderato, 2. Adagio, 3. Allegro molto
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer who is known for his symphonies and string quartets, sometimes referred as the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet". Haydn wrote several more concertos for flute (e.g. Flute concerto in D Major, VIIf: 1, composed in 1780) which unfortunately were lost.
Haydn’s musical career took off when the director of music of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna heard him singing while visiting young boy’s native village Hainburg. Spent nine years as chorister Haydn continued as a freelance musician and mostly self-taught music theory and composition by studying works of C.P.E.Bach. Gradually gaining success as a composer, Haydn was employed by Baron Fürnberg for whom he composed his first set of string quartets which became the turning point of his career. The growing demand for his music and performances landed him Kapellmeister position at the court of Count Morzin where he composed his first symphonies.
In 1761 Haydn was offered to join Vice-Kapellmeister work at Prince Paul Esterházy where he quickly took over all main musical activities. From that time on he spent the most of his life at Eszterháza palace (now in Fertőd, Hungary). Staring from 1790s Haydn was able to travel more, mostly to London where his music became very popular or Vienna where he moved in 1795. During one of his travels to London Haydn met the young Beethoven in Bonn and persuaded him to come to Vienna to study with him.