How Did Haydn Develop Under The Patronage System

Throughout history, musicians and composers, who possess a unique musical talent, found themselves been employed under the patronage system and or freelance system. Up till the classical era, the only way musicians could support themselves is under the patronage system. They could be servants of aristocrats or servants of the church. Under the patronage system, musicians were employed as servants. As servants, they have very few rights; they cannot leave their jobs without asking for permission from the patrons. Being employed also comes with certain restrictions of the type of music that musician produced. The musicians produce have to produce music to the employer¡¯s liking. Haydn was not free in the kind of music he would create. Joseph Haydn, a well known classical era composer, spends most of
his career until he retired working in that musicians have worked centuries before him under the patronage system.
Haydn spent large part of his career composing opera. Even though opera was not his most recognized work, he had to compose opera because his employer, Prince Esterhazy loved it. These opera pieces are not well known pieces by Haydn. These opera are not famous because Haydn¡¯s opera pieces are formulated pieces under a lot of restrictions. He had to write for specific singer hire by the opera company. These opera pieces also had to meet his employer¡¯s standards. Haydn had little freedom to experiment in his instrumental music. Haydn wrote hundreds of trios for violin, cello, and baryton. Haydn included the instrument baryton because that was the instrument that price Esterhazy likes to play. The music that Haydn wrote for baryton also had to be easy enough so that the price can play. Most musicians and
composers before Haydn were employers under the patronage system. There are great deals of restriction of his music but they were still very creative under these conditions. By the nineteen century, with a lot more with technological advances; railroads began to be built all over Europe composers began to travel more. Economic situation also improved as of result especially for people in the lower and middle class. The middle class began to have money to spend on leisure activities. Consequently, in the 19th century, public concerts began to occur with the growing public. This new growing market increase employment opportunities for musicians to address new diverse musical tastes. As of result, the patronage model collapsed and freelancing became an option. Freelance composers are free to compose music. As of result, more interesting music is composed, and composers were experimenting more and could do clever things in their composition. Composers began breaking rules and expanding different musical forms. Composers began to develop their own signature styles. Unique signature style in composition is one of the most recognizable features of Beethoven¡¯s music, who is the first to spend his entire career as a freelance musician. Elements of the patronage system and the newer freelance system of employment are still how arts are supported in the U.S.A. and Europe today. There are musicians been signed on by record companies and symphonies to perform within the group. In this free and individual based era, freelance become the dominant form of arts. This allows artists to explore new areas and break older boundaries in arts.