Joseph Haydn, Isang Yun: Farewell

Copy at Case Memorial Library
Neil Butterworth wrote in Haydn: His Life and Times: "[Haydn's] Symphony No. 45 [nicknamed Farewell] … is perhaps among the best known of his works mainly on account of the true story associated with its unusual last movement. … [T]he Esterházy musicians … though they might well have found their work congenial … still managed to harbour one grievance. Their accommodation, in fact, was not large enough for them to have their families with them. … When the summer of 1772 passed and it seemed that the Prince would not make his customary visit to Vienna, the players became restless at the prospect of not seeing their families at all that year. They appealed to Haydn who had the characteristically subtle idea of conveying their unrest to the Prince by way of a musical joke. At the end of the fourth movement … as each instrument in turn finishes his part, the player puts out his candle, gathers his music and quietly departs, leaving only two violins still playing at the end of the work. Fortunately without anger, the Prince took the hint that the musicians were eager to get away for a holiday" (p. 52).