Franz Joseph Haydn Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Symphony No. 44 in E minor “Mourning”Franz Joseph Haydn51rank/position

0703 F J. Haydn Symphony No. 44 in E minor “Trauer” (Mourning)

It is said that Haydn expressed a wish for the slow movement of this piece to be performed at his funeral.

Indeed, this movement was performed at the commemorative memorial event for Haydn in 1809.

The nickname “Trauer” (Sorrow) for this work originates from that.

Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, “Farewell”Franz Joseph Haydn52rank/position

Haydn: Symphony No. 45 in F-Sharp Minor, Hob. I:45 “Farewell”: I. Allegro assai

Composed in 1772, the Symphony No.

45 is a masterpiece that fully showcases Haydn’s genius.

It was born from an original idea: to convey through music that the musicians, whose performance season at the Esterházy family’s summer palace had dragged on, wished to see their families.

Remarkably, in the final movement the players finish one by one and leave the stage, until only a violinist and the conductor remain, an effect that vividly reflects Haydn’s witty character.

From the tense first movement to the emotionally rich second movement and the surprise-filled finale, it never lets the listener grow weary.

One cannot help but be moved by the skill with which it communicates people’s feelings through music.

Symphony No. 6 in D major “Morning”Franz Joseph Haydn53rank/position

Joseph Haydn: Symphony in D major, no. 6 ‘Le Matin’

Symphony No.

6 in D major [Morning]: I.

Adagio – Allegro; II.

Adagio – Andante – Adagio; III.

Minuet; IV.

Finale, Allegro.

Together with Nos.

7 and 8, it forms a trilogy.

Performed by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.

Symphony No. 7 in C Major [Day]Franz Joseph Haydn54rank/position

Haydn’s Symphony no 7 “Le Midi” by Corpus Christi Chamber Orchestra conducted by John Landis

Symphony No.

7 in C major [Day]: I.

Adagio – Allegro; II.

Recitative; III.

Minuet; IV.

Finale, Allegro.

This is the second work of the trilogy.

Performed by the Corpus Christi Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mr.

John Landis.

Symphony No. 83 in G minor “The Hen”Franz Joseph Haydn55rank/position

J. Haydn – Hob I:83 – Symphony No. 83 in G minor “The Hen” (Brüggen)

It is affectionately nicknamed “The Hen” because the second theme of the first movement is reminiscent of a chicken’s clucking, but it seems this was not a name given by Haydn himself.

The nickname came into use from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

Symphony No. 85 in B-flat major “The Queen”Franz Joseph Haydn56rank/position

J. Haydn – Hob I:85 – Symphony No. 85 in B flat major “La Reine” (Brüggen)

Composed around 1785, it is the fourth of the six Paris Symphonies.

It is known by the French nickname “La Reine” (The Queen).

The origin of the name is uncertain, but it is said that Queen Marie Antoinette of France was particularly fond of it.

Symphony No. 86 in D majorFranz Joseph Haydn57rank/position

F. J. Haydn Symphony No. 86, Movement III

Composed in 1786 on commission for a new orchestra in Paris, this is the sixth work of the Paris Symphonies.

Its instrumentation is among the largest in the set, and accordingly the workmanship is exceptionally refined, resulting in an even more brilliant and dazzling composition.

Symphony No. 88 in G majorFranz Joseph Haydn58rank/position

F. Haydn / Symphony No. 88 in G major

Symphony No.

88 in G major: I.

Adagio – Allegro; II.

Largo; III.

Menuett, Allegretto; IV.

Finale, Allegro con spirito.

Performed by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Ensemble Academy, conducted by violinist Tetsu Yasunaga.

Symphony No. 88 in G major “V”Franz Joseph Haydn59rank/position

J. Haydn – Hob I:88 – Symphony No. 88 in G major (Brüggen)

It is popularly known as the “V.” This refers to the cataloging number assigned by a London publisher when issuing a collection of Haydn’s symphonies.

Among the series of “Paris Symphonies,” it is considered the finest and is regarded as a masterpiece on par with the “Salomon Symphonies.”

Symphony No. 89 in F major, “Letter W”Franz Joseph Haydn60rank/position

J. Haydn – Hob I:89 – Symphony No. 89 in F major (Brüggen)

Composed in 1787 as a companion to the preceding Symphony No.

88, it is sometimes referred to as the “W-shaped” symphony.

Because the second and fourth movements freely repurpose material from the “Lyra Concerto in F major” composed the previous year, and because the first and third movements were written in a rather perfunctory manner compared to Haydn’s other symphonies, many Haydn scholars do not hold Symphony No.

89 in high regard.

Incidentally, the opening theme of the first movement resembles the melody of the children’s song Shojoji no Tanukibayashi, composed by Shimpei Nakayama.