Haydn - String Quartet in Eb Major, op.33 no.2 “The Joke”
When we think of “classical musical comedy”, especially with Haydn, we imagine people in powdered wigs chuckling in a droll manner at some unexpected whimsy. How quaint and charming! This image, mixed with how some jokes are meta-musical, can make listeners roll their eyes. Too “high brow” and outdated to be thought of as “comedy” to us. But that isn’t the case, these jokes can range from sophisticated to smarmy to lowbrow, etc. And Haydn’s personality shines through as being lighthearted and sarcastic. But it also gives him an excuse to write things that go against the classical aesthetic, and push a bit “forward” with rhythm, harmony, etc. The first movement of this quartet is sunny, a fun melody feels unbalanced over a rhythmically shifting accompaniment. The scherzo is a bit rowdy with stomping “in your face” chords that is a prophecy of Beethoven. It suddenly stops and we get a little dance with a smearing violin, the melody slips and slides around. In the slow movement, we take a break from jokes and get a sincere and almost orchestral song. There are grand chords that break up the lyricism. The last movement is what gives the quartet its nickname. It opens with a fun skipping melody, almost Italian, and then we get to the “moment”. I’m not going to spoil it for you if you haven’t heard it before, because that would completely ruin the effect, but the first time I listened to this I didn’t know why it was called the Joke, and when it happened I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Movements:
1. Allegro moderato
2. Scherzo: Allegro
3. Largo
4. Presto