The Symphony No. 96 in D major, Hoboken I/96, was completed by Joseph Haydn in 1791 as part of the set of symphonies composed on his first trip to London. It was first performed at the Hanover Square Rooms in London on 11 March 1791. Although it is the fourth of the twelve London symphonies (numbers 93–104) by number, it was actually the first one written and performed. It is popularly known as the Miracle Symphony.
The autograph manuscript of the symphony is preserved in the British Library.
A typical performance lasts around 20 minutes.
Nickname
The name "Miracle" is not Haydn's own. Rather, the Symphony has been called so due to the story that, during its premiere, a chandelier fell from the ceiling of the concert hall in which it was performed. The audience managed to dodge the chandelier successfully as they had all crowded to the front for the post-performance applause, and the symphony got its nickname from this. More careful and recent research suggests that this event actually took place during the 1795 premiere of his Symphony No. 102.
Music
thumb|upright=1.3|Engraving from [[The Illustrated London News, showing a concert in Hanover Square Rooms on Hanover Square. The chandeliers in the hall can clearly be seen.]]
The symphony is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings.
It is in standard four-movement form:
I. Adagio – Allegro
The first movement is in sonata form. Following a slow introduction, the first theme of the exposition is actually two overlapping themes, a short–short–short–long repeated-note theme in the first violins over a falling motif in the middle strings and bassoons. Following a brief transitional section, the first theme returns giving the opening section a ternary structure. The central "B" section of the movement is for full tutti in G minor and is highly contrapuntal.