Franz Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn was considered the "Father of classical music". In particular, Joseph Haydn was known as the "Father" of the modern symphony with four movements, including a 'minuet' and a slow movement. He also redefined or "invented" the string quartet , Haydn, however, revolutionized this art with an unbelievable 83 string quartets, in addition to numerous string and piano trios. His opera's, chamber music, and symphonies, attest a playful and creative imagination able to blend stagnant folkloric music as well as mysterious color within the classical style. Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, lower Austria, on March 31st, 1732. He was the second of twelve children. He was talented with music as a toddler, and soon began to sing and play the violin and piano. As soon as he was old enough he began to sing in the local church choir and soon was studying under the teacher J. M. Franck. This choir-master, recognizing the boy's talent, chose him to sing in the city's famous St. Stephen's Cathedral. When his voice began to crack as he entered the teenage years, he was forced to leave the choir and fend for himself at the age of sixteen. He however remained in Vienna for the next eight years, earning money as a teacher, composer and musician. He soon attracted many students and was doing well enough to rent an attic and begin a formal musical program. During these dreadful years, he composed music. But finally on May 1st, 1761, Haydn broke free of his years of poverty. Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy asked Haydn to be the Vice-Kappellmeister (conductor) of his elite private musical institution. This was Haydn's chance to experiment any combination of instruments and vocal ensembles with as much freedom as he chose. However the Prince deemed an oppressive list of regulations which stated that Haydn may not be "overbearing towards his musicians". Nevertheless, Haydn was overjoyed to be able to test his musical genius with a talented group of musicians, regardless of having to wear the "white stockings, white linen, and either a powdered queue a tie-wig" of a high-class servant. However, Prince Paul died soon after Haydn's arrival, and was succeeded by Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy. He too had a passion for music and Haydn's job was secure for the next 30 years in which he composed numerous sonatas, quartets, symphonies and other musical arrangements under Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy. But soon after Prince Nicolaus' death, the musical passion of this family began to die away and Haydn realized it was time to move on. Luckily, Johann Peter Saloman, a violinist in London, offered Haydn a job almost immediately and offered to commission several symphonies and other compositions. Haydn was soon the largest success London had ever seen. Nevertheless in his later years, Haydn longed to return to his home in Vienna, and did so. During the last years, he conceded to writing string quartets, masses, and his ever-famous oratorios. Later he also composed the Austrian National Anthem, which is still a popular yet controversial string quartet. On December 26th, 1803, he conducted his last concert and formally began his retirement. In 1805, we was proclaimed dead by a London newspaper, but later he gently pointed but that he was still in fact alive. Four years later on May 31st, 1809, those newspapers were true. He died a rich and famous man across Europe. His hundreds of compositions gave root to the never-dying tree of classical music. And his quartets and other chamber pieces started a new art that still lives on today. |