LIFE
-1732-1809
-Born in Rohrau, Austria-village had a rich tradition of folk song and dance
-son of a wheelwright, taught music by an uncle
-accepted to sing in boy's choir at St. Stephen's Cathedral Vienna until age 16 (1740-1748) vocal and violin training, but no theory
-settled in Vienna, bought a harpsichord and studied counterpoint and learned how to compose!
-was a teacher and accompanist
-1759 music director to Count Morzin (conducting, performing, composing-composed mainly divertimenti)
-1760 married Maria Anna Keller (sister of the woman he was in love with had become a nun)
-*1761 employed by Paul Anton Esterhazy (Hungarian prince) in Eisenstadt
-1766 Paul Anton died and Prince Nikolaus made Haydn Kapellmeister
-Esterhaza palace had an opera house-Haydn directed the orchestra, opera company, marionette theatre and chapel, composed on command for the Prince, trained musicians, repaired instruments...
-put on weekly concerts for distinguished guests (kept up to date of developments in the political and musical world)
-wrote 165 pieces for the Baryton (viol type instrument with a second set of sympathetic strings) because the prince played it- daily chamber music sessions
-Early 'contract' with Paul Anton would not allow Haydn to sell his works at all- changed in the 1770s
-1760s and 1770s German 'Sturm und Drang' movement (storm and stress)
-symphonies no. 44-47 are more emotional and less elegant than previous symphonies
-later years, reputation outside of Esterhaza grew
-1785 Paris commission of 6 symphonies no. 82-87
-1791 London commission of 12 symphonies by violinist Salomon no. 93-104
-late 1790s and early 1800s focused on vocal music: oratorios including Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801)
-After prince Nikolaus's death in 1790 his son Anton disbanded the orchestra and Haydn moved to Vienna to live on a pension, travelled
-1796 Anton died and Nikolaus II invited Haydn back to Esterhaza (didn't particularly appreciate music, but know how prestigious it was to have Haydn as 'composer in residence')
-Haydn travelled to England 1791-92 and 1794-95 to conduct-received an honorary doctorate from Oxford
-1800 wife died
-Born in Rohrau, Austria-village had a rich tradition of folk song and dance
-son of a wheelwright, taught music by an uncle
-accepted to sing in boy's choir at St. Stephen's Cathedral Vienna until age 16 (1740-1748) vocal and violin training, but no theory
-settled in Vienna, bought a harpsichord and studied counterpoint and learned how to compose!
-was a teacher and accompanist
-1759 music director to Count Morzin (conducting, performing, composing-composed mainly divertimenti)
-1760 married Maria Anna Keller (sister of the woman he was in love with had become a nun)
-*1761 employed by Paul Anton Esterhazy (Hungarian prince) in Eisenstadt
-1766 Paul Anton died and Prince Nikolaus made Haydn Kapellmeister
-Esterhaza palace had an opera house-Haydn directed the orchestra, opera company, marionette theatre and chapel, composed on command for the Prince, trained musicians, repaired instruments...
-put on weekly concerts for distinguished guests (kept up to date of developments in the political and musical world)
-wrote 165 pieces for the Baryton (viol type instrument with a second set of sympathetic strings) because the prince played it- daily chamber music sessions
-Early 'contract' with Paul Anton would not allow Haydn to sell his works at all- changed in the 1770s
-1760s and 1770s German 'Sturm und Drang' movement (storm and stress)
-symphonies no. 44-47 are more emotional and less elegant than previous symphonies
-later years, reputation outside of Esterhaza grew
-1785 Paris commission of 6 symphonies no. 82-87
-1791 London commission of 12 symphonies by violinist Salomon no. 93-104
-late 1790s and early 1800s focused on vocal music: oratorios including Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801)
-After prince Nikolaus's death in 1790 his son Anton disbanded the orchestra and Haydn moved to Vienna to live on a pension, travelled
-1796 Anton died and Nikolaus II invited Haydn back to Esterhaza (didn't particularly appreciate music, but know how prestigious it was to have Haydn as 'composer in residence')
-Haydn travelled to England 1791-92 and 1794-95 to conduct-received an honorary doctorate from Oxford
-1800 wife died
STYLE
-blend of lyricism, dramaticism and elegance presented in the utmost of simplicity
-use of folk elements: catchy melodies, pizzicato strings (suggest strumming guitar), pedal points (suggest bagpipe drone)
-sense of humour and whimsy (ex Surprise and Farewell symphonies)
-monothematic early expositions (same, similar theme 1 and 2 in different keys)
-creative experimenter especially with form
-embraced pre-classical elegance and also Sturm und Drang drama with sudden accents and bold changes of key
-developed string quartet and symphony into the form we know today
-symphonies evolved from 3 movement early Classical form to 4 movements
-use of slow dramatic introduction (like Beethoven Pathetique later)
-expansion of the orchestra in later symphonies-greater use of brass and percussion
-composed symphonies over a changing period in history where the makeup of the orchestra continued to change and grow
-use of vivid word painting in oratorios
-Influenced composers after him- Beethoven, Mozart...
-use of folk elements: catchy melodies, pizzicato strings (suggest strumming guitar), pedal points (suggest bagpipe drone)
-sense of humour and whimsy (ex Surprise and Farewell symphonies)
-monothematic early expositions (same, similar theme 1 and 2 in different keys)
-creative experimenter especially with form
-embraced pre-classical elegance and also Sturm und Drang drama with sudden accents and bold changes of key
-developed string quartet and symphony into the form we know today
-symphonies evolved from 3 movement early Classical form to 4 movements
-use of slow dramatic introduction (like Beethoven Pathetique later)
-expansion of the orchestra in later symphonies-greater use of brass and percussion
-composed symphonies over a changing period in history where the makeup of the orchestra continued to change and grow
-use of vivid word painting in oratorios
-Influenced composers after him- Beethoven, Mozart...
WORKS
-catalogued chronologically by Anthony van Hoboken (Hob)
-master of string quartet (68) and the symphony (104)
-other orchestral and chamber msuci, including concertos for piano, violin, cello, horn and trumpet
-sacred music: 14 masses, oratorios
-dramatic music: 14 operas (very successful during the time, but rarely performed today)
-keyboard music: over 40 sonatas
-master of string quartet (68) and the symphony (104)
-other orchestral and chamber msuci, including concertos for piano, violin, cello, horn and trumpet
-sacred music: 14 masses, oratorios
-dramatic music: 14 operas (very successful during the time, but rarely performed today)
-keyboard music: over 40 sonatas
TERMS
monothematic exposition: Theme 1 in I, Theme 1 transposed