Posted by John Rasmussen on February 02, 19103 at 21:38:17:

In Reply to: Symphony Nr. 45 "Farewell" posted by Grau on January 24, 19103 at 15:53:43:

I can't recall the exact details now, but apparently there was the 18th-C. equivalent of a labor dispute. The musicians, as usual, were overworked and underpaid. Haydn took the musicians' side by writing this symphony, in whose last movement the players stop playing, get up, and walk out, section by section. It is said that Haydn's employer, Prince Esterhazy, exclaimed as the symphony finished, "Well, since everyone else has gone, we might as well go, too!" If I recall correctly, Haydn and his orchestra actually got their hours reduced! But then, Prince Esterhazy was unusually enlightened for his age; after all, he hired Haydn!

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