Joseph Haydn Research Paper

Franz Joseph Haydn (better known as “Joseph Haydn”) was born on March 31, 1732, in Rohrau, Austria. He was the second son in his family. “His father was a wheelwright, his mother, before her marriage, a cook for the lords of the village” (www.britannica.com). Haydn was born with very unusual musical gifts that his parents noticed when he was at an extremely young age. Haydn was not yet six years old when his cousin who was a principle and choirmaster in Hainburg (not far from Rohrau) offered to take him to his home and train him musically. When Haydn left his parent’s home, he never returned except for rare short visits (www.britannica.com). As a young boy, Haydn learned to play multiple instruments, sang in the church choir, and learned a great deal about basic
Haydn served Prince Miklós for nearly 30 years. During this time, Haydn would travel to Vienna, and a friendship between Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart came to fruition. The two composers inspired one another in their compositions. “The period from 1768 to about 1774 marks Haydn’s maturity as a composer” (www.britannica.com). His music placed him among the chief composers of the era. According to britannica.com, Haydn did not have success in his professional life did not parallel his personal life. His wife, Maria Anna Keller, did not understand music and was not interested in his work. She even used his musical manuscripts for pastry pan linings. Their marriage was very rough and he had an affair with an Italian mezzo-soprano in the prince’s service named Luiga Polzelli. Haydn was one of the most important composers in the development of the Classical musical style during the 18th century. He was nicknamed the “Father of the Symphony”, and he wrote 104 symphonies during the Classical music era (www.askwillonline.com). “He helped establish the forms and styles for the string quartet and symphony”