Nationality:
Austrian
Born:
Rohrau,
March 31st
1732
Died:
Vienna,
May
31st
1809
Type
of music: Symphonies,
String quartets, Opera, Oratorios
Main
works: 104
symphonies, 15 operas, 12 masses, string quartets, Violin concertos,
keyboard concertos
Haydn
is arguably the most important composer of the 18th
Century. He personally made one of the biggest contributions to the
development of different forms of classical music, including the
symphony, concerto, string quartet and sonata. His work would also
influence future greats such as Mozart and Beethoven, who was a pupil
of Haydn. Haydn stands in a pivotal moment in music history due to the
fact he was one of the last composers to be in the service of
aristocracy. He sought freedom from this and managed to do so near
the end of his career.
His
talent was recognised at the early age of 6 by his family, and after
he turned 8, he became choirboy at St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.
After leaving the choir in 1749, he worked as a music teacher in
Vienna over the next 10 years, until he became engaged in the service
of the Esterhazy family.
He
took up this post in 1761 at Eisenstadt, and was required to train
the choir and orchestra there, and also compose music upon request.
Some of the first works composed here were the 3 symphonies,
'Morning', 'Noon' and 'Night'. Haydn's musical output grew
significantly when he began serving under Prince Nikolaus, and they
moved to Eszterhaza in a new summer palace where Haydn wrote
approximately 25 operas for performance. Haydn wrote the 'Farewell
Symphony' in a plea to move back to Eisenstadt as the court musicians
had families in Vienna. This symphony among others was written in the
1770's and exhibited a wide range of emotions and styles. This
literary inspired work also influenced both his string quartets and
piano sonatas that he wrote around this time.
His
fame eventually allowed him to compose music for other patrons and
also get his scores published. In 1790 prince Nikolaus died and he
also became free to travel, which included a visit to London. In 1791
Oxford University awarded in an honorary doctorate in music.
In
Haydn's later years btween 1796 and 1802 he composed 6 masses,
including 'The Creation' in 1798. His last public appearance was at a
performance of this mass for his 76th birthday
celebration. He died in the May of 1809 and the vast majority of
Vienna's arts patrons attended his funeral. It included a performance
of Mozart's Requiem.
"So
far as genius can exist in a man who is merely virtuous, Haydn had
it” - Nietzsche
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