A musical joke: Haydn ́s humor by a machine

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/rm.v18iespecial.151093

Keywords:

Haydn, humor, String quartet, analysis

Abstract

In 1789-90 Joseph Haydn received a London envoy, the editor John Bland, in the Esterházy palace room,  while he was shaving. At this moment he offered his best string quartet in exchange for good English razors. The tradition recalls the quartet op 55 nº 2 with the name "The Razor Quartet". In the present work I will try to demonstrate, through the analysis, some of the characteristics of the composer’s style that justify why this suggestive title has been conserved until our days. To do this, I start from the concept of rhetoric and ingenuity, in order to analyze the degree of complicity between the sender and the receiver, so that humor can be understood.

 

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References

ALTMANN, Wilhelm. Twelve String Quartets. Opp. 55, 64 and 71, Complete. New York: Dover Publications, 1980.

CASABLANCA, Benet. El humor en la música. Broma, parodia e ironía. Un ensayo. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg, 2014.

DOWNS, Philip G. La música clásica. La era de Haydn, Mozart y Beethoven. Madrid: Akal Música, 1998.

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HIL, John Walter. La música barroca. Madrid: Akal Música, 2008.

LUCAS, Mónica. Uma visão retórica da agudeza no Quarteto de Cordas Op.33, N.5 de Franz Joseph Haydn. In: Per Musi, Belo Horizonte, n.16, 2007, p. 21-32.

REEL, James. Franz Joseph Haydn. String Quartet No. 46 in F minor (“Razor”), -Op. 55/2, H. 3/61. Disponible en: https://www.allmusic.com/composition/string-quartet-no-46-in-f-minor-razor-op-55-2-h-3-61-mc0002363488. Consulta 29 nov. 2017.

ROSEN, Charles. El estilo clásico. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. Madrid: Alianza Música. 1986.

WIGMORE, Richard. Encarte CD, 2017. Disponible en http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dw.asp?dc=W10005_66972. Consulta 29 de nov. de 2017.

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Published

2018-10-21

How to Cite

ARGÜELLO, Cecilia Beatriz. A musical joke: Haydn ́s humor by a machine. Revista Música, [S. l.], v. 18, n. especial, p. 215–228, 2018. DOI: 10.11606/rm.v18iespecial.151093. Disponível em: https://revistas.usp.br/revistamusica/article/view/151093. Acesso em: 24 apr. 2026.