Symphony No. 26 (Haydn)

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.

An earlier tradition suggested the symphony had been written for Christmas (at the time a much less significant religious holiday), 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.

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.

It is scored for two oboes, bassoon, two horns, continuo (harpsichord) and a string section containing first and second violins, violas, cellos and double basses.