1. Adagio Maestoso — Allegro Spiritoso
2. Marche: Grave
3. Fugue: Adagio Maestoso — Allegro
- Year of composition: April 1807
- Work category: Symphony
- Dedication: Dedicated to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
- First performed: 14 May 1807 in the Riddarhuset [House of Nobility], Stockholm
- Duration: 21 min
- Detailed duration: Indication of time according to score: movement no. 1: 12', movement no. 2: 4', movement no. 3: 5'
Instrumentation
2.2.2.2 / 4.2.3.0 / timp / str
Examples of printed editions
Musikaliska konstföreningen [the publishing house of the Swedish Art Music Society], Stockholm 2010 (editors Avishai Kallai and Jari Eskola)
Location for score and part material
Print on demand, Musikaliska konstföreningen [the publishing house of the Swedish Art Music Society]
- Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
Literature
Kallai, Avishai: Joachim Eggert - Authenticating the premiere performance of his E-flat symphony, in STM-online, vol. 4, 2001.
Description of work
1. Adagio Maestoso E-flat major 4/4 (C) 22 bars, Allegro spiritoso 383 bars (/:146:/237), in total 405 bars
2. Marche: Grave E-flat major 4/4 (C) 24 bars (/:8:/:8:/:8:/)
3. Fugue: Adagio Maestoso E-flat major 4/4 (C) 38 bars
Allegro E-flat major alla breve 265 bars, in total 203 bars
Work comment
This work is a milestone among symphonies. It precedes Beethoven's Symphony no. 5 by eighteen months, which is said to be the first symphony using trombones.
In fact, this occurred already in May, 1807. Eggert's Symphony in C minor was performed at the same concert, which was also his debut as conductor. This concert probably paved the way for him to his appointment as musical director of the Royal Opera in Stockholm.
Similarly to Eggert's Symphony in C minor, this symphony is said to bear traces of his Funeral cantata composed for Prince Fredrik [Frederick] Adolf, Duke of Östergötland (1750-1803). According to the printed edition, the second and last movements derive from that cantata.
It was dedicated to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music as a token of gratitude for their having appointed him as a member.