Luogo e data di registrazione		-
	Registrazione: live / studio		studio
	Edizione LP		AMADEO - AVRS 6357 - (1 lp) - durata 53' 16" - (p) 1966 - Analogico
	Altre edizioni LP		MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY - MHS 544 - (1 lp) - (1, 3) MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY - MHS 524 - (1 lp) - (2)
	Prima Edizione CD		-
	Note		Stereo compatible

THIS PLEASANT COUNTRY-TOWN anjoys a world-wide reputation through its intiate association with Joseph Haydn, who spent many years there in the service of the house of Esterhazy. He was appointed Kapellmeister at the Eisenstadt Court in 1761, became one of the greatest figures in the whole history of music, and eventually came to his last resting-place in the Bergkirche at Eisenstadt. The exact date of this Cassatio is unknown, but Hoboken assigns it to a date earlier than 1766. It opens with a ceremonial March and ends with a movement based on a pigrims' song. In between there are two minuets, the first easy going and the second more courtly, two Allegri, the first worked out with meticulous precision and the second in gay Divertimento style; and a Cantilena for strings only, preceded by a Recitativo. The Sonata in E flat dates from the early Eisenstadt years, probably 1766, though the original version is no longer extant. Elssler's catalogue lists it as a Divertimento. Essentially the work belongs to the early classical period, the second of the three movements being a Minuet instead of a slow movement. The thematic material is largely determined by the range and scope of the horns, which give the work a hughky individual flavour. The Divertimento a Sei dates from about 1760 and seems to have been very popular during Haydn's lifetime, as copies of it in manuscript were widely distributed, though the works was never printed in its original form. It has been reconstructed from a number of 18th century sources by the well-known Haydn expert Robbins Landon. The work is particularly interesting as combining the typical Divertimento style of Haydn's day with a sort of "programme", namely the confrontation of the two sexes. Why it was called "Der Geburtstag" (The Birthday) is not known. The best movement is the Finale, a discussion of a dignified theme illustrating the characteristic qualities of male and female. The second movement consists of two contrasting themes representing the two sexes, while the remaining movements conform to tradition, the first being a charming little piece in sonata form, and the third a typical Minuet with an attractive Trio. Alfons Übelhör (Translation: Richard Rickett)