Symphony No. 26 (Haydn)
The Symphony No. 26 in D minor, Hoboken 1/26, is one of the early Sturm und Drang Symphonies written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as the Lamentatione. It was written under the auspices of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, and is from the late 1760s, when Haydn began to experiment with minor key symphonic writing. It is also one of his first minor key symphonies.
Background
Haydn wrote the symphony for Easter week. H. C. Robbins Landon has dated it to 1768. In the absence of the original autograph, it is impossible to verify the date of composition, although this dating is consistent with the work's appearance in the Entwurf Katalog. An earlier tradition suggested the symphony had been written for Christmas, but the oldest original extant manuscript indicates clearly that the piece was indeed intended for Easter celebrations.It is an early example of the Sturm und Drang style that would characterize much of Haydn's symphonic output during the period from 1774 to 1775.
Because of its association with Easter week, Haydn incorporates a melody derived from an old plainsong chant of the Passion of Christ, interpolating this familiar liturgical setting to contrast with the furious opening theme. The same lament is also picked up in the second movement, reinforcing the symphony's link to the Passion through evocation of a melody that would have been familiar to audiences of the time.