by Brian Vuyk

Franz Joseph Haydn was one of the most influential and remarkable musicians of the Classical era. Haydn’s life is the story of how the son of a wheelwright from a little Austrian town rose to become one of the most prolific composers the world has ever seen. Haydn not only wrote a lot of music, including 104 symphonies and 68 string quartets, but he wrote them well. He was known largely for his symphonies, but also for his other works, and most notably for his master piece, the three-act oratorio entitled “The Creation.” Early Life

The birth of Franz Joseph Haydn is shrouded in some mystery, as his official birth date, according to the family register, was April 1, 1732. However, his brother Michael claims that he was actually born on March 31, 1732, as “he did not want people to say I [Haydn] had come into the world as an April fool.” (Butterworth, 1987) Regardless of the actual date, Haydn was born in Rohrau, Lower Austria. His father, a wheelwright and a magistrate, was Haydn’s first musical influence, as he played folk songs on his harp. Early in life it became apparent that Haydn was a gifted vocalist, as well as having a desire to play the violin. His uncle, Johann Mathias Frank, realized the potential of young Haydn and encouraged his parents to let the boy study under his care in Hainburg. After two long and brutal years under his uncle, the eight-year-old Haydn moved to Vienna, to study under Karl Georg Reutter at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. He sang in the choir at St. Stephen’s until his early teens, when his voice broke and when his playful antics got him kicked out of the choir and onto the street. After living with a fellow musician, he received a sum of money from a friend of his father’s and proceeded to make it on his own. He made money by teaching children, singing in a choir, and performing violin at services and parties. (Thompson, 1991) At this time he also studied a great deal of music theory and wrote a great many sonatas, trios, and dances. He learned a great deal from Carl Philipp Emmanuel, Bach’s son, and from Niccolò Porpora, about whom he admired for: “I learned so much from him in singing, composition, and Italian.” (Hughes, 1978)

Musical Career

In 1759, Haydn began his employment with Count Marzin. After two years, in May of 1761, he signed a three year contract of employment with Prince Paul Anton Esterházy. Prince Anton was a great music lover and had established a permanent orchestra and choir at his castle. Haydn was hired as a composer in charge of the orchestra. His duties included rehearsing and directing the relatively small orchestra, train the singers, keep the instruments in proper condition, and his behaviour was one that had to be conducive of a house officer, though Haydn actually had the “rank” of a servant. He also had to compose enough music so as to satisfy the prince’s demands. (Thompson, 1991; Hughes, 1978) By this time, 1765, he had written over thirty symphonies, eighteen string quartets, and numerous other works, and he was only 29! Appointed Kapellmeister in 1766, Haydn’s responsibilities and influence were increased. In 1790, Haydn retired from the Esterhazy’s, with a pension, when they could no longer afford to employ him. Two years later, a young man by the name of Ludwig van Beethoven becomes his pupil, only to have this relationship ended when Haydn realized that there was very little that he could actually teach Beethoven. He traveled abroad, even going to England and playing for the Royal Family there. He was nominated to be any honorary citizen of Vienna in 1804. (Butterworth, 1987)

Symphonies

A large portion of Haydn’s works were written for instruments. This is supported by the fact that he wrote 104 symphonies and is affectionately called the “father of the symphony” by some. (McCaldin, 1996). Haydn wrote his first symphony in the summer of 1758, at the Marzin residence. It was at this first performance that Haydn’s future employer, Prince Anton Esterházy, was present. When one first compares Haydn’s early works, from 1758, to his later few symphonies, in 1795, there appears to be a huge gap in the fullness and skill in which they were written. However, after viewing this difference more carefully, one realizes that there is no gap, but rather “an unbroken continuity.” (Hughes) A large part of the difference that can be seen occurred between 1768 and 1770, when the literature of the era changed. The symphonies he wrote in this era had a much more “driving intensity and tragedy.” (Butterworth, 1987). One comical note involving Haydn was that he wrote the Surprise, Symphony No. 94, in such as way as to actually surprise people, as he was upset when they were falling asleep during his performances. All in all, Haydn was a composer who wrote with a great deal of variation in his symphonies throughout his illustrious career.

Other Works

Haydn was also a great leader in developing string quartets, along with symphonies. Over his lifetime he wrote 68 string quartets, and is believed by some to have invented this form of music. (Kamien, 2002) Haydn’s works covered a great deal of musical forms, including: operas (25), piano sonatas (53), piano trios (32), oratorios & cantatas (5), divertimentos for string trio (21), baryton trios (126), mechanical clocks (11), vocal songs (464) and masses (15). (Thompson, 1991) In all of these works, he created a great deal of contrasts, using texture, rhythm, and orchestration to do this. Haydn was also one who like to compose things the way he wanted them done. He hated following arbitrary rules of composing, and this is proven by the wide variety of music styles that his works encompass. (Kamien, 2002). Haydn’s works as a whole were very diverse and had a great impact on future Western music styles and artist, as both Mozart and Beethoven were influenced by Haydn.

The Creation

Haydn’s most well known piece, composed in 1798, is the “greatest oratorio of the classic period, Die Schopfung (The Creation).” (Cole and Brown, 1997) This was a piece that is based on two major works. The first was text from Genesis and the second involved Milton’s famous poem: Paradise Lost. The piece was also inspired by Haydn’s imagination after viewing the heavens using the telescope of the astronomer Herschel. The original edition for the full score of The Creation was composed of over 300 pages, though this included both the English and German translations. (Brown, 2003) After writing this magnificent piece, Haydn claimed that “I [Haydn] fell on my knees each day and begged God to give me strength to accomplish the work successfully.” (Hughes, 1978) Conclusion:

The career of Franz Joseph Haydn is one that helped introduce the genre of Classical Music. Haydn’s musical talents were discovered at a young age, were nurtured by numerous teachers, but most notably by himself. Hiring himself out as a servant gave him the opportunity to learn more and write many pieces, especially symphonies and string quartets. Haydn is most remembered for his impact on Mozart, Beethoven, and Classical music, as well as his greatest work: Die Schopfung – The Creation.

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