Joseph Haydn

Concerto F major Hob. XVIII:3

In contrast to Mozart, Haydn was not a keyboard virtuoso. He certainly conducted his orchestral works from the harpsichord, and also performed his own piano sonatas, but any ambition to be a concertizing pianist was foreign to his nature. Thus 'only' three piano concertos by Haydn have come down to us. The Concerto for piano and string orchestra Hob. XVIII:4 is full of spirit and the joy of playing. We know neither the occasion for which it was written, nor the year of its composition; the extensive preface to our edition of the playing score, with one string part each, discusses this in detail. As in the sources of the time, the solo part here also includes the bass line (with figures) for tutti sections. Axel Ruoff makes suggestions for the solo cadenzas required in movements 1 and 2; Haydn composed the cadenza for the concluding Rondo movement. This Urtext edition is based on the musical text of the Haydn Complete Edition, which is likewise published by G. Henle Publishers. The trade press applauds it: 'In view of the scarcity of easier piano concertos, one can be thankful for this new edition, especially since it can be presented with a very small orchestra, perhaps even with a string quartet.'