Symphony No. 71 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 71 in B-flat major, Hoboken I/71, is a symphony by Joseph Haydn. It was composed by 1780.

Movements
The symphony is scored for flute, two oboes, bassoon, two horns and strings.
 * 1) Adagio, – Allegro con brio,
 * 2) Adagio F major,
 * 3) Menuetto & Trio,
 * 4) Finale: Vivace,

After dark string sonorities reminiscent of Sturm und Drang in the slow introduction, the Allegro begins with a very light galante theme which is interrupted periodically by more darkly colored strings. The transitional material is notable for its use of counterpoint.

The slow second movement is a theme with four variations and a coda. The second variation features a flute and bassoon duet over thirty-second notes and pizzicato bass. Triplet-sixteenths dominate the third variation. As usual, the final variation is recapitulatory, but here Haydn extends the variation with further development and a cadenza-like passage.

The trio of the minuet features solo sections for two violins against a pizzicato bass.