Itwasinhismonumental12“London“symphonies,composedbetween1791and1795,thatHaydnshapedtheearlyformofthesymphonyandsetthestandardforlatercomposers.AccordingtotheNewGrove’sDictionaryofMusicandMusicians,theappealoftheseworksstemsfromtheirstatureas“grand“symphonies,embodyinga“broaderpresentationofmusicalideas“and“themesandmotifsofabasicsimplicityandimmediateappeal.“Thepresentvolumecontainsthelastsixsymphoniesintheseries,includingthelively“Military“Symphony(No.100),thedelightful“Clock“Symphony(No.101),andtheworld-famous“London“Symphony(No.104).ScoresincludedinthisvolumeareSymphonyNo.99inE-flatMajor;SymphonyNo.100inGMajor(“Military“);SymphonyNo.101inDMajor(“TheClock“);SymphonyNo.102inB-flatMajor;SymphonyNo.103inE-flatMajor(“Dumroll“);andSymphonyNo.104inDMajor(“London“).Theattractivequalitiesoftheseworkshavemadethemperennialfavoriteswithmusiciansandconcertgoersforovertwohundredyears.Nowmusicloverscanstudyandenjoytheelegantstructureandpolishedorchestrationoftheseenduringmasterpiecesinthisauthoritativefull-scoreedition.
