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Franz Joseph Haydn
Symphony in C Major (Toy), Hob.II:47

Traditionally attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn, the Toy Symphony is known for its whimsical assortment of toy instruments. As the story goes, Haydn wrote the piece after purchasing an armful of toys at a fair, later performing it at a Christmas party in the presence of his family. Despite the charming tale, musicologists have long disputed the work’s authorship, suggesting that Haydn’s brother Michael, Leopold Mozart, or the Benedictine monk Edmund Angerer may have actually penned the composition. Regardless of the creator, the short, three-movement work, also known by its German title Kindersinfonie (Children’s Symphony), has become a fixture in holiday concerts.