Marie Antoinette, the queen for whom the 85th Symphony is nicknamed

The Symphony No. 85 in B♭ major, Hoboken I/85, is the fourth of the six Paris symphonies (numbers 82–87) written by Joseph Haydn. It is popularly known as La Reine (The Queen).

## Background[edit]

Main article: Paris symphonies

The 85th Symphony was completed in either 1785 or 1786.[1] It made its way to America early on, at first through a keyboard arrangement such as one played by Nelly Custis at the White House.[2]

## Nickname (La Reine)[edit]

The nickname La Reine originated because the work was a favorite of Marie Antoinette, at the time Queen of France.[3] It is the only one of the Paris symphonies whose nickname is of 18th-century origin.[4]

## Movements[edit]

The symphony is in standard four movement form and is scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, and strings.

1. Adagio — Vivace
2. Romance: Allegretto
3. Menuetto: Allegretto
4. Finale: Presto

The first movement contains a reference to Symphony No. 45.[5] The second movement is described by H. C. Robbins Landon as "a set of variations on the old French folk-song 'La gentille et jeune Lisette';[6] see Haydn and folk music.

## See also[edit]

* List of symphonies by name

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Robbins Landon 1963, xv
2. ^ Kirk, 1986, 18
3. ^ Steinberg (1995, 204)
4. ^ Bernard Harrison, Haydn: The 'Paris' Symphonies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1998): 101
5. ^ Harrison, 88
6. ^ Robbins Landon 1963, xvii

## References[edit]

* Robbins Landon, H. C. (1963) Joseph Haydn: Critical Edition of the Complete Symphonies, Universal Edition, Vienna
* Steinberg, Michael (1995) The Symphony: A Listeners Guide. Oxford University Press.
* Harrison, Bernard Haydn: The "Paris" Symphonies (Cambridge University Press, 1998)
* Kirk, Elise K. Music at the White House: A History of the American Spirit (University of Illinois Press, 1986)

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* t
* e

Symphonies by Joseph Haydn

A–20|

* A
* B
* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6 (Le matin)
* 7 (Le midi)
* 8 (Le soir)
* 9
* 10
* 11
* 12
* 13
* 14
* 15
* 16
* 17
* 18
* 19
* 20

21–40|

* 21
* 22 (Philosopher)
* 23
* 24
* 25
* 26 (Lamentatione)
* 27 (Hermannstädter)
* 28
* 29
* 30 (Alleluia)
* 31 (Hornsignal)
* 32
* 33
* 34
* 35
* 36
* 37
* 38 (Echo)
* 39
* 40

41–60|

* 41
* 42
* 43 (Mercury)
* 44 (Trauer)
* 45 (Farewell)
* 46
* 47 (Palindrome)
* 48 (Maria Theresia)
* 49 (La passione)
* 50
* 51
* 52
* 53 (L'impériale)
* 54
* 55 (The Schoolmaster)
* 56
* 57
* 58
* 59 (Fire)
* 60 (Il distratto)

61–81|

* 61
* 62
* 63 (La Roxelane)
* 64 (Tempora mutantur)
* 65
* 66
* 67
* 68
* 69 (Laudon)
* 70
* 71
* 72
* 73 (La chasse)
* 74
* 75
* 76
* 77
* 78
* 79
* 80
* 81

Paris symphonies|

* 82 (The Bear)
* 83 (The Hen)
* 84 (In nomine Domini)
* 85 (La Reine)
* 86
* 87

88–92|

* 88
* 89
* 90
* 91
* 92 (Oxford)

London symphonies|

* 93
* 94 (Surprise)
* 95
* 96 (Miracle)
* 97
* 98
* 99
* 100 (Military)
* 101 (Clock)
* 102
* 103 (Drumroll)
* 104 (London)

Authority control

General|

* VIAF
* 1
* 2
* WorldCat (via VIAF)
* 2

National libraries|

* France (data)
* Germany
* United States

Other|

* MusicBrainz
* work

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