2. Maybe this replacement makes better sense: “Or take Haydn’s prank in his Symphony No. 60, “The Absent-Minded.” The confident and lively beginning of the final movement abruptly stops just a few bars in. The violins proceed to interject with wild chords, the last of which is bizarrely dissonant—the “absent-minded” orchestra has forgotten to tune.
Tune in Today: The Comedy in Haydn’s ‘The Joke’ Quartet
The Austrian composer’s sense of humor is prominently displayed in its unexpected ending.
“Joseph Haydn Playing Quartets.” Staatsmuseum, Vienna. Public Domain
