Haydn: Late Piano Works

Featuring

Gary Cooper
Joseph Haydn

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Compositional Technique

Haydn was the first composer to use silence in a magical way, as evidenced by the detailed dynamic, phrasing, and articulation markings in his Sonata in C major, Hob. xvi: 48/49.

Instruments

The album features a specific Viennese piano from around 1785, chosen for its exceptional breadth of touch and response, which the performer believes is ideal for Haydn's late keyboard works.

Historical Context

Haydn's last three piano sonatas, including the Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. xvi: 52, were dedicated to the concert pianist Thérèse Jansen, in contrast to earlier sonatas dedicated to amateur player Marianne von Genziger.

Composition History

Haydn's Variations in F minor, Hob. xvii: 6, include a famous, heart-rending coda sequence added at the last minute after he received news of his close friend Marianne von Genziger's death.

Recording & Production

This recording was inspired by the perfect match between the instrument and Haydn's late keyboard music, using a Viennese piano from around 1785.

Performer Biography

Gary Cooper, the performer on this album, is recognized as a leading ambassador of the harpsichord and fortepiano, with a diverse repertoire spanning from Elizabethan Virginalists to Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Interpretation

For this recording, a late 18th-century tuning system was used to recreate the sound world Haydn would have known, making certain key changes, like E major following E-flat major, more poignant.