The gentle tick of Haydn’s “Clock.”
The second movement of Haydn’s Symphony No. 101 is known as “The Clock” for the persistent tick-tock rhythm that accompanies its graceful theme. Written in 1794 as one of Haydn’s late London symphonies, the movement combines an unhurried Andante with the wit, surprise, and finely shaped contrasts that make Haydn’s music so alive.
Steven Light’s wind-ensemble arrangement transfers the original’s plucked strings and bassoon pulse into concert-band colors, allowing the ticking accompaniment and its lyrical variations to move through the full ensemble.
View score & parts →
Portrait of Joseph Haydn by Thomas Hardy, 1791 — public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
A clock, and much more.
The first appearance of the rhythmic figure is simple and unmistakable, but Haydn treats it with great imagination: the melody returns in changing instrumental colors and moods, while the clock continues steadily beneath it. The result is both refined and playful—a small, regular pulse at the center of a movement full of invention.
Watch the score unfold.
This video pairs the audio with a scrolling score.