Comparing Joseph Haydn's Life And Accomplishments
Heather Weaver
Professor Pittman
Music 171
6 November 2014
The Life and Accomplishments of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn was considered to be one of the most influential and significant composers during the 18th Century. Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in the Austrian village of Rohrau to very prominent parents. His parents made music a big part of their children’s lives as the region where he was born was hugely influenced by “a heritage of love and instinct for music” (Knapp). During his musical career he faced many obstacles throughout. As the great musician he was he was able to overcome the obstacles and become even bigger and better in his musical abilities and would become known as the “father” of the classical symphony and string quartet
When Hayden was just eight years old he was accepted into the choir school of Saint Stephen 's Cathedral in Vienna, where he received his only formal education. Once Haydn hit the point of puberty and his voice changed, He was dismissed from the choir in 1749, at the age of 17 because he was no longer able to sing high choral parts (Haydn). Upon his dismissal from his position, he spent one night homeless on a park bench, but was taken in by friends and began to pursue a career as a …show more content…
freelance musician and was a self-taught musician moving forward.
During this difficult 10 year period where he was trying to establish himself as a known musician, Haydn worked many different jobs, including valet–accompanist for the Italian composer Nicola Porpora, from whom he later said he learned “the true fundamentals of composition” (Franz). He labored to fill the gaps in his training, and eventually wrote his first string quartets and his first opera. He also became great friends with Mozart and the two composers occasionally played in string quartets together. Haydn was hugely impressed with Mozart’s work, and in various ways tried to help the younger composer. Luckily for him during this hard time, his career in the musical field strengthened and pushed him towards the great composer that he became (Knapp).
In 1757 according to the New Grove Encyclopedia, Haydn received his first important position, that of Kapellmeister (known as a music director) for Count Karl von Morzin. In this capacity, he directed the count’s small orchestra, and for this ensemble wrote his first symphonies. Count Morzin soon suffered financial reverses that forced him to dismiss his musical establishment, but Haydn was quickly offered a similar job as assistant Kapellmeister to the Eszterházy family, one of the wealthiest and most important in the Austrian Empire. When the old Kapellmeister, Gregor Werner, died in 1766, Haydn was elevated to full Kapellmeister.
Despite his humble musical beginnings, he has been perceived as the creator of many new and modern forms of music, particularly in regard to the “sonata, the symphony and the string quartet” (Franz) .
The development of sonata form into a subtle and flexible mode of musical expression, which became the dominant force in Classical musical thought, owed most to Haydn and those who followed his ideas. His sense of “formal inventiveness also led him to integrate the fugue into the classical style and to enrich the rondo form with more cohesive tonal logic” (Joseph Haydn). Haydn was also the principal exponent of the “double variation form that is variations on two alternating themes”, which are often major and minor mode versions of each
other.
When Haydn Died at the age of 77, he was a very famous and wealthy man. He influenced many of the greats that we are familiar with, such as Mozart. Mozart was even quoted saying that Haydn’s work was “the standard by which all chamber music was measured” (Haydn). Haydn was undoubtedly the strongest overall influence on musical style in the Classical Era. He played a substantial role in the development of important types of orchestral and solo music, such as the symphony, the string quartet and sonata form. Some have even gone so far to say that he is the "Father of the Symphony” (Franz).
Works Cited
"Franz Joseph Haydn ." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014.
MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Groves Dictionary of Music and
Musicians." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996
"Haydn." Haydn. Csueastbay, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.mcs.csueastbay.edu/~malek/Musician/Haydn.html>.
Knapp, Raymond L. "Joseph Haydn (Austrian Composer)." Encyclopedia Britannica
Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/257714/Joseph-Haydn>.
"Joseph Haydn." Joseph Haydn. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nndb.com/people/989/000091716/>.
Professor Pittman
Music 171
6 November 2014
The Life and Accomplishments of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn was considered to be one of the most influential and significant composers during the 18th Century. Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in the Austrian village of Rohrau to very prominent parents. His parents made music a big part of their children’s lives as the region where he was born was hugely influenced by “a heritage of love and instinct for music” (Knapp). During his musical career he faced many obstacles throughout. As the great musician he was he was able to overcome the obstacles and become even bigger and better in his musical abilities and would become known as the “father” of the classical symphony and string quartet
When Hayden was just eight years old he was accepted into the choir school of Saint Stephen 's Cathedral in Vienna, where he received his only formal education. Once Haydn hit the point of puberty and his voice changed, He was dismissed from the choir in 1749, at the age of 17 because he was no longer able to sing high choral parts (Haydn). Upon his dismissal from his position, he spent one night homeless on a park bench, but was taken in by friends and began to pursue a career as a …show more content…
freelance musician and was a self-taught musician moving forward.
During this difficult 10 year period where he was trying to establish himself as a known musician, Haydn worked many different jobs, including valet–accompanist for the Italian composer Nicola Porpora, from whom he later said he learned “the true fundamentals of composition” (Franz). He labored to fill the gaps in his training, and eventually wrote his first string quartets and his first opera. He also became great friends with Mozart and the two composers occasionally played in string quartets together. Haydn was hugely impressed with Mozart’s work, and in various ways tried to help the younger composer. Luckily for him during this hard time, his career in the musical field strengthened and pushed him towards the great composer that he became (Knapp).
In 1757 according to the New Grove Encyclopedia, Haydn received his first important position, that of Kapellmeister (known as a music director) for Count Karl von Morzin. In this capacity, he directed the count’s small orchestra, and for this ensemble wrote his first symphonies. Count Morzin soon suffered financial reverses that forced him to dismiss his musical establishment, but Haydn was quickly offered a similar job as assistant Kapellmeister to the Eszterházy family, one of the wealthiest and most important in the Austrian Empire. When the old Kapellmeister, Gregor Werner, died in 1766, Haydn was elevated to full Kapellmeister.
Despite his humble musical beginnings, he has been perceived as the creator of many new and modern forms of music, particularly in regard to the “sonata, the symphony and the string quartet” (Franz) .
The development of sonata form into a subtle and flexible mode of musical expression, which became the dominant force in Classical musical thought, owed most to Haydn and those who followed his ideas. His sense of “formal inventiveness also led him to integrate the fugue into the classical style and to enrich the rondo form with more cohesive tonal logic” (Joseph Haydn). Haydn was also the principal exponent of the “double variation form that is variations on two alternating themes”, which are often major and minor mode versions of each
other.
When Haydn Died at the age of 77, he was a very famous and wealthy man. He influenced many of the greats that we are familiar with, such as Mozart. Mozart was even quoted saying that Haydn’s work was “the standard by which all chamber music was measured” (Haydn). Haydn was undoubtedly the strongest overall influence on musical style in the Classical Era. He played a substantial role in the development of important types of orchestral and solo music, such as the symphony, the string quartet and sonata form. Some have even gone so far to say that he is the "Father of the Symphony” (Franz).
Works Cited
"Franz Joseph Haydn ." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014.
MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Groves Dictionary of Music and
Musicians." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996
"Haydn." Haydn. Csueastbay, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.mcs.csueastbay.edu/~malek/Musician/Haydn.html>.
Knapp, Raymond L. "Joseph Haydn (Austrian Composer)." Encyclopedia Britannica
Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/257714/Joseph-Haydn>.
"Joseph Haydn." Joseph Haydn. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.nndb.com/people/989/000091716/>.