Franz Joseph Haydn (normally known as Joseph Haydn) was an Austrian composer of classical music, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet".
Born in 1732 into a large family in Rohrau, Austria (he was the second of twelve children), he spent nine years at the Cathedral Choir School of St. Stephens, Vienna. From 1749 he lived a precarious life, earning his keep by teaching music, by playing in street orchestras and for a time working as valet-accompanist for the Italian composer, Nicola Porpora. During this period he taught himself to compose music (partly by study the works of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach).
In the years 1759-60 Haydn worked for Count von Morzin as Kapellmeister (music director) of the Count's court musicians. He directed the orchestra and wrote his earliest symphonies.
In 1761 Haydn entered the service of the wealthy aristocratic Esterhazy family. He was their court musician and musical director and he was to remain in their service for many years -- until 1790. He lived on the remote Esterhazy estates (first at their castle in Eisenstadt and then at a new palace in rural Hungary) and, thus isolated from most of the composers and musical trends of his time, Haydn was, as he admitted, "forced to become original".
During the almost thirty years that spent with the Esterhazys, who were musical conoisseurs and very supportive of Haydn, the composer produced a vast number of works (by 1790 he had completed more than 70 symphonies and 50 sonatas for the piano, as well as works for the baryton, string quartets, operas and church music). His style developed and he developed an international reputation.
From 1784 Haydn mentored Mozart, who learned much about the symphonic form from Haydn. In return the latter was highly impressed by Mozart's compositions.
In 1790 Haydn made the first of two highly successful visits to London, responding to an offer from the German impresario, J. P. Salamon, to come and conduct there. Apart from putting on very successful concerts there, he composed a number of important works in this period, such as the "Surprise" and the "London" symphonies.
In 1790 Haydn met Beethoven in London. Later, Beethoven was for a time a pupil of Haydn.
Haydn spent his final years in Vienna. During this period he composed two wonderful oratorios, "The Creation" (1798) and "The Seasons" (1801), as well as six important masses, including his Mass in D minor ("The Nelson") (1798).
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DavidPaulWagnerApr 19, 2012
katiem2Apr 16, 2012