While he was serving in the Esterhazy Court in Austria, Haydn, already highly revered throughout most of Europe, was commissioned to write six symphonies by a society known as the Concert de La Loge Olympique, headed by Claude-François-Marie Rigoley, Comte d'Ogny. The composer promptly satisfied the commission, producing his Symphonies Nos. 82-87. But despite its numbering in the series, the A major No. 87 was most likely the first of the group composed, not the last.

Like the other five Paris Symphonies, it is scored for a much larger orchestra than Haydn had written for in Austria, but does not employ trumpets or drums. Cast in four movements, it opens with a lively Vivace that lacks the usual slow introduction. The spirited, chipper main theme launches the movement with both a sense of energy and muscularity. The second subject, though it begins vigorously in the strings, is comparatively subdued and light, contrasting well with the main theme. After a repeat of the thematic materials, the development section begins with the second subject, now presented in a sterner vein, in A minor. The music works up some tension here before yielding to a delightful reprise of the main material.

The ensuing Adagio features a dreamy main theme where the strings are not so dominant, with flute, oboe, and bassoon sharing a good portion of the limelight. The melody varies somewhat throughout and its second subject, introduced by the oboe, is a bit livelier without breaking away from the peaceful serenity of the surrounding music. The ensuing Menuet is spirited and graceful in its outer sections, while the inner trio is playful and more intimate, and features a charming solo for oboe. The finale is a Rondo marked Vivace, its happy main theme and related material never losing their energy or color throughout. Haydn's writing divulges some imaginative contrapuntal features as he develops the main theme in the latter half of this brief movement. This A major symphony typically has a duration of 20 to 25 minutes.

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