The Symphony No. 103 is Haydn's penultimate symphony, one of three that he wrote for the 1795 season of Opera Concerts in London, produced by the violinist-composer Giovanni Battista Viotti. The work was written over the winter of 1794 and 1795, and was first performed under Haydn's direction on March 2, 1795 at the King's Theatre. Later that year, after his return to Vienna, Haydn revised the symphony slightly; that new, somewhat compressed version of the work was premiered in Vienna on September 21, 1795.

The "Drumroll" of the title is heard at the very beginning of the symphony; as there are no dynamic markings in the score, the actual sound of the roll on the timpani depends on the particular performance. It sometimes starts loud and gradually dies out; at other times it starts quietly, then grows gradually louder, and then dies out again. In either case, the drumroll leads into a rather ominous slow opening that hints at the medieval "Dies irae" melody. The mood gradually lightens, leading into livelier music with a sweet, waltz-like theme. The development section is wide-ranging, and incorporates a startling return of the ominous opening music, complete with timpani roll, before a sparkling close.

The second movement is based on a pair of folk songs, probably of Croatian origin, that Haydn had likely heard back home in Austria. The two similar themes, respectively in the major and minor, are presented in a stately opening for the strings. Each of the tunes is subjected to a pair of variations, including a particularly dramatic one including trumpets and timpani, and a charming one for woodwinds answered by the strings. Also incorporated into the movement is a florid violin solo, written for the Opera Concerts' leader Viotti.

The Menuet third movement is laid-back, with some lovely doubling of the strings by the woodwinds in the movement's trio section. In the fourth movement, the combination of French horn calls and a sparkling violin tune heard at the opening carries the entire piece, which is unassuming, but subtle and charming.

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