JOSEPH HAYDN Symphony Nr. 94 Fourth Movement

Joseph Haydn Joseph was born in a tiny Austrian village called Rohrau. His father made wagon wheels. Haydn’s musical background consisted of folk songs his father loved to sing. Haydn’s family noticed how musical he was and sent him to live with relatives who could give him basic music lessons. He was six years old when he left home.

The home where Haydn was born.

After two years of lessons, he got a position at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna as a choirboy.

When his voice changed, Haydn was dismissed from St. Stephen’s and turned out on the street without a penny. “I barely managed to stay alive by giving music lessons to children for about eight years” he wrote. Throughout these years he struggled to teach himself composition and also took odd jobs, including playing the violin in street bands.

Gradually, people began to notice him. FINALLY, by the time he was 29 years old, his life changed for the better – permanently. In 1761, Haydn entered the service of the Esterhazys, the richest and most powerful of the Hungarian noble families.

The Esterhazy palace where Haydn lived.

Respected and taken care of, Haydn flourished in this palace. The palace contained an opera house, a theater, two concert halls, and 126 guest rooms. He was looked at as a highly skilled servant and was subject to the wishes of the prince.

Haydn met the younger Mozart in the early 1780s and they became close friends. Of Mozart Haydn said, “This I know: Mozart is the greatest composer the world possesses now.” Haydn became immensely popular all over Europe. In 1790, after the death of the Prince, Haydn was free to go to London.

Portrait of Haydn

Haydn gladly left to visit London. He composed many symphonies there and his works were viewed as triumphs. And so the servant became a celebrity.

Haydn returned to Vienna in 1794, rich and honored. At this point, he was still employed by the Esterhazys, but needed only to write one mass a year. Haydn died in 1809, at the age of 77, while Napoleon’s army was occupying Vienna. The memorial service for him showed how famous he had become. It was attended by thousands.