In the second movement, the wind instruments are omitted and the violins play in semiquavers from start to finish (a kind of perpetuum mobile) with the pattern frequently broken by the use of trills. The violas in this slow movement double the bass part throughout at an octave above. (e.g., "col basso," which was common in the period). Also, the first and second violins are the same in the second movement. The last movement is "Haydn's first attempt at a symphonic rondo and is characterized by a preoccupation with imitative processes." It is the only one of Haydn's symphonies that contains no repeat signs. It is also one of his shortest symphonies; performances generally last less than ten minutes.

Date of composition 1761 (1757-1761)
First published 1764
Type Symphony
Tonality C Major
Catalogue Hob. I:2
Approx. duration 9 minutes
Instruments Orchestra
Autotranslations beta Joseph Haydn: Symphonie n°2 en do majeur, Hob. I:2
Franz Joseph Haydn: Sinfonia n. 2 in do maggiore, Hob. I:2
Joseph Haydn: Sinfonie Nr. 2 C-dur, Hob. I:2