Haydn composed this symphony for the enjoyment of his employer, Prince Nikolaus Eszterházy, and of his family. At the time, Haydn was 32 years old and had already been working as the Eszterházy Vice-Kapellmeister for three years. In this capacity, Haydn also would have directed the premiere performance. It is thought that Haydn used the violin to lead the other players, numbering little more than a dozen. The original autograph score of the symphony survives.
The nickname "Philosopher" was not Haydn's own, but was used in his lifetime. The reasons for the nickname are unknown, but it is often assumed to be due to the serious, reflective tone of first movement.
The piece is scored for strings, two French horns, and (unusually) two cors anglais. The use of cors anglais instead of oboes offered Haydn a more somber tone quality, appropriate to the first movement, and anticipates the similar use of this instrument by later composers such as Gustav Mahler. The horns play a very prominent role in all but the second movement, and Haydn's choice of E flat major may have been dictated by the fact that the valveless horns of the time sounded best played as E flat instruments (that is, with E flat crooks inserted.)
The symphony is in four movements:
The first, "philosopher" movement dominates the symphony; played with all the indicated repeats, it lasts about 10 minutes, almost half the duration of the symphony as a whole. A highlight of the movement is the treatment of the second portion of the opening theme (m. 5-8), which is elaborated at various points into delicate descending sequences of harmonic suspensions. Throughout, a "marching" bass rhythm persists, evoking for some commentators a religious procession.
The second movement is extroverted, in very fast tempo, and features virtuosic playing from the string section. As commentators have pointed out, this movement would be too fast and light to begin a classical symphony on its own, but fits well after a slow opening movement. Later in Haydn's symphonic career, the same effect would be achieved by placing a light opening theme after a slow introduction.
The opening theme of the third movement echoes that of the first, resembling an extended rendition of it in minuet tempo. The trio section features vivid writing in the high register for the two horns.
The horns are also prominent in the jubilant finale, playing motifs reminiscent of hunting music.
Of the early Haydn symphonies, the "Philosopher" is among the widely favored among the listening public and appears frequently on concert programs.
Another version of the piece, well known in Haydn's time, has three movements: the second movement of the original version comes first, then there is a different movement, marked andante grazioso, which is thought to be spurious, and then the finale as in the original version. This arrangement is not thought to be Haydn's own and is today a mere historical curiosity, rarely performed.