Haydn was an Austrian composer born in 1732 who was one of the most prominent figures in classical music. He was musically gifted from a young age but received no formal training in his hometown. At age 6, he joined the household of Johann Frankh and received musical instruction while doing chores. In 1740, Haydn moved to Vienna to sing in the choir at St. Stephen's Cathedral. He later became Vice Kapellmeister and then Kapellmeister for the aristocratic Esterhazy family, serving them for 30 years and having access to resources that allowed him to compose many symphonies and string quartets. In his later years, Haydn found great success in London and mentored

1. Everything you ever wanted to know, and more, about...

2. The Facts
 Born in 1732, died in 1809
 Composer of the Classical
era (1750 – 1820)
 Born in Rohrau, Austria
 Musical family
 Though very gifted musically, Haydn could
not receive any training in Rohrau

3. Growing up with the
Frankhs
 Haydn moved in with Johann Frankh,
several miles from his hometown, at age
6
 Became Frankh’s musical apprentice
 Earned his keep by doing chores
 Frequently underfed, underclothed,
lonely
 Studied harpsichord, violin and singing
with Frankh, who was a very gifted
musician himself

4. Vienna waits for Haydn
 In 1740, Haydn’s singing voice comes to the
choir director of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in
Vienna
 Performed an excellent audition and moved to
Vienna to sing in the church’s choir
 Joined shortly thereafter by his brother
 Continued to study music with Reutter, the
choral director, and absorbed all he could from
Vienna (which was a musical and cultural
hubcap at the time) until 1749 when he was
dismissed

5. Haydn: The (Temporarily) Lost
Boy
 Freelance musician after
leaving the choir
 Found he did not
understand the basics
of harmony well enough to
write
 Studied Fux and C.P.A. Bach’s writings on
counterpoint to improve his music
 Attributed many positive qualities of his
compositions to their work

6. Haydn: King of the Castle
 Haydn’s compositions improving 
increased public interest in his music
 Patronage from aristocrats
 Taught music lessons
 Increased respect from the community
 Settled down and got married
 Became Kapellmeister of the court of Count
Morzin 1757
 Married the sister of a girl he was in love with
 Unhappy marriage, though it is not reflected in
his music

7. Haydn: King of Another
Castle 1761  Vice Kapellmeister in the court of the
Esterhazys (HUGELY important Austrian
family!)
 Promoted in 1766
 As Kapellmeister:
 Lived and travelled with the family
 Composed court, church, occasional and art music
for the family
 A challenging and welcome opportunity for
Haydn
 Lived and worked with the Esterhazys for 30
years

8. The Esterhaza Palace

9. Nikolaus Esterhazy I
 Great love of music
 Appreciated Haydn’s
talent and ambition
 Gave Haydn access to any musical
instruments, ensembles and resources he
would ever need
 Provided Haydn with the time, means and
space to write, rehearse and stage all of
his compositions

10. Papa Haydn: Father of the
Symphony and the String
Quartet
 Best – known for his many, many
symphonies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLjwkamp3ll
 Paris
 London
 Military
 Surprise
 Well known for his contribution to the string
quartet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc34Jr9udlU
 Emperors
 Sunrise

11. Post-Esterhaza
 After Nikolaus I’s death, Haydn
visits London as a conductor
 Warmly received by London
audiences
 Acting as a musical mentor to Mozart
and Beethoven
 Musical and financial success in
London prompts Haydn to produce
some of his finest work:
 London, Surprise, Oxford symphonies
 Multiple string quartets
 Gypsy piano trio

12. The Final Years
 Return to Vienna
 From 1795 onwards, Haydn composed a substantial
amount of sacred music
 Oratorio, mass
 The Creation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Jkktpp9QI
 Still composing music for his beloved Esterhazy family
 Becomes ill early in the 1800s and finds writing music
physically painful
 Died in 1809 – his last words were words of comfort to his
distressed servants as Vienna was attacked by
Napoleon’s army