Someone mentioned earlier Haydn symphonies which were "among the most
creative music written" - and there is another thread where there are
"magic moments of music".  A short post here to combine the two.

One magic moment is in the allegro of the Haydn Symphony #39.  It is
a rest.  That's right, a rest as one of the magic moments of music.

The introduction like section opens with a allegro styled theme - played
quietly.  It stops for just a moment, and then continues onward.  The
first time it is a bit of a suprise, and the forte counter theme seems
to introduce the exposition proper.  But it is only once the exposition
and development have proceded that it becomes clear that there was no
introductory material, and that the quiet theme was, in fact, the thematic
pattern.  The stop forces almost a drawing in of breath each time it
arrives.

Because Haydn had established that there was a surprise shift to forte, we
keep waiting for the other shoe to drop - the pause should be followed by
a forte blast.  Each time we wait - the logical way to close the movement
yes? No, merely the stereotypical way.  And more over one that Haydn avoids
by colouring the development more and more with minor like topoi - the
exposition moves sharpward, but sounds flatward because of the shift in
modality.

So that's the magic moment, when the pause comes, and the music progress,
each time quietly, and each time with a gradual thematic transformation,
avoiding a mere blast from the horns.

Stirling Newberry
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http://www.mp3.com/ssn