Franz Joseph Haydn composed his Symphony no. 73 in 1782. Nowadays it is usually referred to as I - 73 after its positionin the Hoboken catalogue of Haydn's works. This symphony is known by the subtitle 'La chasse' (The Hunt). The 'hunting' trope was very popular in eighteenth century musical culture: the last movement features horn calls, and the main melody is taken from 'La Chasse du Cerf', a divertimento originally written by French composer Jean-Baptiste Morin. Morin himself drew upon the popular Sourcillade (or Vue) penned by André Danican Philidor in the first decade of the 18th century. Haydn's theme was therefore widely recognisable as a hunting motif. The symphony is scored for flute, two oboes, bassoon, two horns and strings. Some versions also include two trumpets and timpani which appear only in the Finale.
