Franz Joseph Haydn 1732-1809

Haydn’s History Born March 31st, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. His family was very musical, but not classically trained. Haydn was trained to be a singer first, and then learned violin, harpsichord. Haydn moved to Vienna (Austria’s Capital) and became a freelance musician. Haydn had a miserable marriage which produced no children. He had many lovers. Haydn became very popular, and eventually music director in Eisenstadt, Austria for the extremely wealthy and influential Esterhazy family.

Haydn’s History Continued Haydn worked for 30 years at the Esterhazy court, where he produced many compositions, including chamber music, string quartets, symphonies, and operas. Haydn was good friends with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whom he met around 1784. They would play string quartets together and greatly admired each others music. Haydn moved to London in 1791, where he was hugely popular. Some of his most famous pieces were composed while he lived in London. Haydn met and tutored Beethoven while on his travels to London. He moved back to Vienna in 1795, where he retired and eventually died in 1809.

Haydn Facts Haydn was known as “Papa Haydn” amongst his friends and musicians that played for him. It was a term of affection, and he is still called that today. He was also known for his greed in business dealings, most likely because he was poor as a child. He composed in the Classical period of classical music (Mozart and early Beethoven are other examples during this time). He wrote 106 symphonies, 68 string quartets, 62 piano sonatas, and many other concertos, piano trios, operas, and cantatas. Haydn essentially created the standard in which symphonies and string quartets were written.

Haydn’s Music Concerto for Piano in D Major: 3rd Movement – Emanuel Ax Piano Sonata No. 62 in Eb Major: 1st Movement.

Haydn’s Music Cello Concerto in C Major: 1st Movement Horn Concerto in D Major: 1st Movement

Haydn’s Music Symphony No. 94 “Surprise”: 2nd Movement Symphony No. 45 “Farewell”: 4th Movement

Trip to Austria - 2014 Esterhazy Palace WLCSD Orchestra