Michael Haydn's Symphony No. 26 in E-flat major, Perger 17, Sherman 26, MH 340, written in Salzburg in 1783, was the first in the set of the only three symphonies of Haydn's published in his lifetime. It was one of several E-flat major symphonies attributed to Joseph Haydn (Hob. I:Es17).
Scored for 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns and strings, in three movements:
- Allegro spiritoso
- Adagietto affettuoso (in A-flat major)
- Presto
The first of these movements is now acknowledged by scholars to have been an important influence on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Symphony No. 39, K. 543 in the same key.
Discography
This symphony is included on disc 6 of a set of 20 symphonies on the CPO label with Bohdan Warchal conducting the Slovak Philharmonic. It has also been recorded by Capella Savaria conducted by Pál Németh on the Hungaroton label, and by Florian Heyerick with the Academia Palatina on the label Etcetera.