Vienna Classical School: Haydn. Brief biography of Joseph Haydn Brief biography of Joseph Haydn

One of the greatest composers of all time is Franz Joseph Haydn. A brilliant musician of Austrian origin. The man who created the foundations of the classical music school, as well as the orchestral and instrumental standard that we see in our time. In addition to these merits, Franz Joseph represented the Vienna Classical School. There is an opinion among musicologists that the musical genres of symphony and quartet were first composed by Joseph Haydn. The talented composer lived a very interesting and eventful life.

Read a short biography of Joseph Haydn and many interesting facts about the composer on our page.

Brief biography of Haydn

Haydn's biography began on March 31, 1732, when little Joseph was born in the fair commune of Rohrau (Lower Austria). His father was a wheelwright, and his mother worked as a servant in the kitchen. Thanks to his father, who loved to sing, the future composer became interested in music. Little Joseph was gifted with perfect pitch and an excellent sense of rhythm by nature. These musical abilities allowed the talented boy to sing in the Gainburg church choir. Later, due to the move, Franz Joseph will be accepted into the Vienna Choir Chapel at the Catholic Cathedral of St. Stephen.

Because of his stubbornness, sixteen-year-old Josef lost his job - a place in the choir. This happened just during the voice mutation. Now he has no income to support himself. Out of desperation, the young man takes on any job. The Italian vocal maestro and composer Nicola Porpora took the young man as his servant, but Joseph found benefit in this work as well. The boy delves into the science of music and begins to take lessons from a teacher.

Porpora could not have noticed that Josef has genuine feelings for music, and on this basis the famous composer decides to offer the young man an interesting job - to become his personal valet companion. Haydn held this position for almost ten years. The maestro paid for his work mainly not in money; he taught music theory and harmony to the young talent for free. So the talented young man learned many important musical fundamentals in different directions. Over time, Haydn's financial problems slowly begin to disappear, and his initial works as a composer are successfully accepted by the public. At this time, the young composer wrote his first symphony.

Despite the fact that in those days it was considered already “too late,” Haydn decided to start a family with Anna Maria Keller only at the age of 28. And this marriage turned out to be unsuccessful. According to his wife, Joseph had an indecent profession for a man. During their two decades of marriage, the couple never had children, which also influenced the unsuccessful family history. Considering all these troubles, the musical genius was a faithful husband for 20 years. But an unpredictable life brought Franz Josef together with the young and charming opera singer Luigia Polzelli, who was only 19 years old when they met. Passionate love befell them, and the composer promised to marry her. But the passion faded rather quickly, and he did not keep his promise. Haydn seeks patronage among rich and influential people. In the early 1760s, the composer received a job as second bandmaster in the palace of the influential Esterhazy family (Austria). For 30 years, Haydn worked at the court of this noble dynasty. During this time, he composed a huge number of symphonies - 104.

Haydn did not have many close friends, but one of them was - Amadeus Mozart . Composers meet in 1781. After 11 years, Joseph is introduced to the young Ludwig van Beethoven, whom Haydn makes his student. Service at the palace ends with the death of the patron - Joseph loses his position. But the name Franz Joseph Haydn has already thundered not only in Austria, but also in many other countries such as Russia, England, France. During his stay in London, the composer earned almost as much in one year as he did in 20 years as conductor of the Esterhazy family, his former employers.

The composer's last work is considered to be the oratorio "The Seasons". He composes it with great difficulty; he was hampered by headaches and problems sleeping.

The great composer dies at the age of 78 (May 31, 1809). Joseph Haydn spent his last days in his home in Vienna. Later it was decided to transport the remains to Eisenstadt.

Interesting facts

It is generally accepted that Joseph Haydn's birthday is March 31st. But his certificate indicated a different date - April 1. If you believe the composer's diaries, then such a minor change was made in order not to celebrate his holiday on April Fool's Day.
Little Joseph was so talented that he could play the drums at the age of 6! When the drummer who was supposed to take part in the procession on the occasion of Holy Week suddenly died, Haydn was asked to replace him. Because the future composer was short, due to the characteristics of his age, then in front of him walked a hunchback, who had a drum tied on his back, and Joseph could calmly play the instrument. The rare drum still exists today. It is located in Hainburg Church.
The young Haydn's singing voice was so impressive that he was asked to join the St. Stephen's Cathedral choir school in Vienna when the boy was only five years old.
The choirmaster of St. Stephen's Cathedral suggested that Haydn undergo a certain operation to prevent his voice from breaking, but fortunately the father of the future composer intervened and prevented this.
When the composer’s mother died at the age of 47, his father quickly married a young maid who was 19 years old. The difference between the ages of Haydn and his stepmother was only 3 years, and the “son” turned out to be older.

Haydn loved a girl who for some reason decided that life in a monastery was better than family life. Then the musical genius invited his beloved’s older sister, Anna Maria, to marry. But this rash decision did not lead to anything good. The wife turned out to be grumpy and not understanding of her husband’s musical hobbies. Haydn wrote that Anna Maria used his music manuscripts as kitchen utensils.
In Haydn's biography there is an interesting legend about the name of the F-moll String Quartet "Razor". One morning Haydn was shaving with a dull razor, and when his patience ran out, he shouted that if he were given a normal razor now, he would give his wonderful work for it. At that moment, John Bland was nearby, a man who wanted to publish the composer's manuscripts, which no one had yet seen. After hearing this, the publisher without hesitation handed over his English steel razors to the composer. Haydn kept his word and presented the new work to the guest. Thus, the String Quartet received such an unusual name.
It is known that Haydn and Mozart had a very strong friendship. Mozart greatly respected and revered his friend. And if Haydn criticized Amadeus’s works or gave any advice, Mozart always listened; Joseph’s opinion always came first for the young composer. Despite their peculiar temperaments and age difference, the friends had no quarrels or disagreements.
“Miracle” - this is the name attributed to symphonies No. 96 in D major and No. 102 in B major. All this is because of one story that happened after the concert of this work ended. People rushed to the stage to thank the composer and bow to him for the beautiful music. As soon as the listeners were at the front of the hall, a chandelier fell with a roar behind them. There were no casualties - and it was a Miracle. Opinions differ at the premiere of which particular symphony this amazing incident occurred.
The composer suffered from nasal polyps for more than half his life. This became known to the surgeon, and also Joseph’s good friend, John Hönter. The doctor recommended coming to him for an operation, which Haydn initially decided to do. But when he came to the office where the operation was to take place and saw 4 large assistant surgeons, whose task was to hold the patient during the painful procedure, the brilliant musician got scared, struggled and screamed loudly. In general, the idea of getting rid of polyps has sunk into oblivion. Josef suffered from smallpox as a child.

Haydn has a Symphony with timpani strikes or it is also called "Surprise". The history of the creation of this symphony is interesting. Joseph and the orchestra periodically toured London, and one day he noticed how some spectators fell asleep during a concert or were already having beautiful dreams. Haydn suggested that this happens because the British intelligentsia are not used to listening to classical music and do not have any special feelings for art, but the British are a people of tradition, so they necessarily attended concerts. The composer, the life of the party and a merry fellow, decided to act cunningly. Without thinking twice, he wrote a special symphony for the English public. The piece began with quiet, smooth, almost soothing melodic sounds. Suddenly, during the sound, a drum beat and the thunder of timpani were heard. Such a surprise was repeated more than once in the work. Thus, Londoners no longer fell asleep in concert halls where Haydn conducted.
When the composer died, he was buried in Vienna. But later it was decided to rebury the remains of the musical genius in Eisenstadt. When the grave was opened, it was discovered that Joseph's skull was missing. It was a trick of two friends of the composer, who took the head for themselves by bribing people in the cemetery. For almost 60 years (1895-1954), the skull of the Viennese classic was located in the museum (Vienna). It was not until 1954 that the remains were reunited and buried together.

Mozart was delighted with Haydn and often invited him to his concerts, and Joseph reciprocated the young prodigy and often played with him in a quartet. It is noteworthy that at Haydn's funeral the sound was "Requiem" by Mozart , who died 18 years before his friend and teacher.
Haydn's portrait can be found on German and Soviet postage stamps issued in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the composer's death, and on the Austrian 5 euro coin.
The German anthem and the old Austro-Hungarian anthem owe their music to Haydn. After all, it was his music that became the basis of these patriotic songs.

Films about Joseph Haydn

Many educational documentaries have been made based on Haydn’s biography. All these films are interesting and exciting. Some of them tell more about the musical achievements and discoveries of the composer, while others tell various facts from the personal life of the Viennese classic. If you want to get to know this musical figure better, we present to your attention a small list of documentaries:

The film company "Academy Media" shot a 25-minute documentary film "Haydn" from the "Famous Composers" series.
On the Internet you can find two interesting films “In Search of Haydn”. The first part lasts a little more than 53 minutes, the second 50 minutes.
Haydn is described in some episodes from the documentary section "History by Notes". From episodes 19 to 25, each of which lasts less than 10 minutes, you can study interesting biographical data of the great composer.
There is a short documentary from Encyclopedia Chanel about Joseph Haydn that is only 12 minutes long.
An interesting 11-minute film about Haydn’s absolute pitch can also be easily found on the Internet network “Absolute Pitch - Franz Joseph Haydn.”

In Guy Ritchie's 2009 Sherlock Holmes, the adagio from String Quartet No. 3 in D major is heard during the scene where Watson and his fiancée Mary dine with Holmes at a restaurant called "The Royal".
The 3rd movement of the cello concerto is used in the English film "Hilary and Jackie" 1998.
The piano concerto is featured in Steven Spielberg's film Catch Me If You Can.
The minuet from the 33rd sonata is inserted into the musical accompaniment of the film "Runaway Bride" (sequel to the famous film "Pretty Woman").
Adagio e cantibile from Sonata No. 59 is used in 1994's The Vampire Diaries starring Brad Pitt.
The sounds of the B-dur string quartet "Sunrise" are heard in the 1997 horror film "Relic".
In the magnificent film "The Pianist", which received 3 Oscars, Haydn's Quartet No. 5 is heard.
Also, String Quartet No. 5 comes from the music to the films "Star Trek: Insurrection" (1998) and "Ft.
Symphonies No. 101 and No. 104 can be found in the 1991 film The Lord of Tides.
The 33rd string quartet is used in the 1997 comedy George of the Jungle.
The third part of String Quartet No. 76 "Emperor" can be found in the films "Casablanca" 1941, "Bulworth" 1998, "Cheap Detective" 1978, and "The Dirty Dozen".
Concerto for trumpet and orchestra appears in "Big Deal" with Mark Wahlberg.
In “The Bicentennial Man,” based on the book by the brilliant science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, you can hear Haydn’s Symphony No. 73 “The Hunt.”

Haydn House Museum

In 1889, the Haydn Museum was opened in Vienna, which is located in the composer's home. For 4 whole years, Joseph slowly built his “corner” with the money earned during the tour. Initially there was a low house, which, at the behest of the composer, was rebuilt by adding floors. The second floor was where the musician himself lived, and below he settled his assistant Elsper, who copied Haydn’s notes.

Almost all the exhibits in the museum are the personal property of the composer during his lifetime. Handwritten notes, painted portraits, the instrument Haydn used to play, and other interesting things. It is unusual that the building has a small room dedicated to Johannes Brahms . Johannes greatly respected and honored the work of the Viennese classic. This room is filled with his personal belongings, furniture and tools.

The entire complex world of classical music, which cannot be covered at one glance, is conventionally divided into eras or styles (this applies to all classical art, but today we are talking specifically about music). One of the central stages in the development of music is the era of musical classicism. This era gave world music three names that probably anyone who has heard at least a little about classical music can name: Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Since the lives of these three composers were in one way or another connected with Vienna in the 18th century, the style of their music, as well as the brilliant constellation of their names itself, was called Viennese classicism. These composers themselves are called Viennese classics.

"Papa Haydn" - whose papa?

The oldest of the three composers, and therefore the founder of the style of their music, is Franz Joseph Haydn, whose biography you will read in this article (1732-1809) - “father Haydn” (they say that the great Mozart himself called Joseph that way, who, by the way, , was several decades younger than Haydn).

Anyone would put on airs! And Father Haydn? Not at all. He gets up at first light and works, writes his music. And he is dressed as if he were not a famous composer, but an inconspicuous musician. He is simple both in food and in conversation. He called all the boys from the street and allowed them to eat wonderful apples in his garden. It is immediately clear that his father was a poor man and that there were many children in the family - seventeen! If not for chance, maybe Haydn, like his father, would have become a master of carriage making.

Early childhood

The small village of Rohrau, lost in Lower Austria, is a huge family, headed by an ordinary worker, a carriage maker, whose responsibility is not the mastery of sound, but carts and wheels. But Joseph’s father also had a good command of sound. Villagers often gathered in the poor but hospitable Haydn house. They sang and danced. Austria is generally very musical, but perhaps the main subject of their interest was the owner of the house himself. Not knowing how to read music, he nevertheless sang well and accompanied himself on the harp, choosing the accompaniment by ear.

First successes

Little Joseph was more clearly affected by his father's musical abilities than all the other children. Already at the age of five, he stood out among his peers with his beautiful, ringing voice and excellent sense of rhythm. With such musical abilities, it was simply destined for him not to grow up in his own family.

At that time, church choirs were in dire need of high voices - female voices: sopranos, altos. Women, according to the structure of patriarchal society, did not sing in the choir, so their voices, so necessary for a full and harmonious sound, were replaced by the voices of very young boys. Before the onset of mutation (that is, the restructuring of the voice, which is part of the changes in the body during adolescence), boys with good musical abilities could well replace women in the choir.

So very little Joseph was taken into the choir of the church of Hainburg, a small town on the banks of the Danube. For his parents, this must have been a huge relief - at such an early age (Josef was about seven) no one in their family had yet become self-sufficient.

The town of Hainburg generally played an important role in Joseph’s fate - here he began to study music professionally. And soon Georg Reuther, a prominent musician from Vienna, visited the Hainburg church. He traveled around the country with the same goal - to find capable, vocal boys to sing in the choir of the Cathedral of St. Stefan. This name hardly tells us anything, but for Haydn it was a great honor. St. Stephen's Cathedral! Symbol of Austria, symbol of Vienna! A huge example of Gothic architecture with echoing vaults. But Haydn had to pay more than that for singing in such a place. Long solemn services and court festivities, which also required a choir, took up a huge part of his free time. But you still had to study at the school at the cathedral! This had to be done in fits and starts. The director of the choir, the same Georg Reuther, had little interest in what was happening in the minds and hearts of his charges, and did not notice that one of them was taking his first, perhaps clumsy, but independent steps in the world of composing music. The work of Joseph Haydn then still bore the stamp of amateurism and the very first attempts. For Haydn, the conservatory was replaced by a choir. Often he had to learn brilliant examples of choral music from previous eras, and Joseph along the way drew conclusions for himself about the techniques used by composers and extracted the knowledge and skills he needed from the musical text.

The boy had to do work that was completely unrelated to music, for example, serving at the court table and serving dishes. But this also turned out to be beneficial for the development of the future composer! The fact is that the nobles at court ate only to high symphonic music. And the little footman, who was not even noticed by the important nobles, while serving the dishes, made to himself the conclusions he needed about the structure of the musical form or the most colorful harmonies. Of course, interesting facts from the life of Joseph Haydn include the very fact of his musical self-education.

The situation at school was harsh: boys were punished petty and severely. No further prospects were foreseen: as soon as the voice began to break and was no longer as high and sonorous as before, its owner was mercilessly thrown out into the street.

Minor start to independent life

Haydn suffered the same fate. He was already 18 years old. After wandering the streets of Vienna for several days, he met an old school friend, and he helped him find an apartment, or rather, a small room right under the attic. It is not for nothing that Vienna is called the music capital of the world. Even then, not yet glorified by the names of the Viennese classics, it was the most musical city in Europe: the melodies of songs and dances floated through the streets, and in the little room under the very roof in which Haydn settled, there was a real treasure - an old, broken clavichord (a musical instrument, one of forerunners of the piano). However, I didn't have to play it much. Most of my time was spent looking for work. In Vienna it is possible to obtain only a few private lessons, the income from which barely allows one to meet the necessary needs. Desperate to find work in Vienna, Haydn began wandering around nearby cities and villages.

Niccolo Porpora

This time - Haydn's youth - was overshadowed by acute need and constant search for work. Until 1761, he managed to find work only temporarily. Describing this period of his life, it should be noted that he worked as an accompanist for the Italian composer, as well as vocalist and teacher Niccolo Porpora. Haydn got a job with him specifically to learn music theory. It was possible to learn while performing the duties of a footman: Haydn had to not only accompany.

Count Morcin

From 1759, for two years, Haydn lived and worked in the Czech Republic, on the estate of Count Morcin, who had an orchestral chapel. Haydn is the conductor, that is, the manager of this chapel. Here he writes a lot of music, music, of course, very good, but exactly the kind that the count demands from him. It is worth noting that most of Haydn’s musical works were written while performing official duties.

Under the leadership of Prince Esterhazy

In 1761, Haydn began serving in the chapel of the Hungarian Prince Esterhazy. Remember this surname: the elder Esterházy will die, the estate will pass into the department of his son, and Haydn will still serve. He would serve as Esterhazy's bandmaster for thirty years.

At that time, Austria was a huge feudal state. It included both Hungary and the Czech Republic. Feudal lords - nobles, princes, counts - considered it good form to have an orchestral and choir chapel at court. You've probably heard something about serf orchestras in Russia, but maybe you don't know that things weren't going well in Europe either. A musician - even the most talented one, even the leader of a choir - was in the position of a servant. At the time when Haydn was just beginning to serve with Esterházy, in another Austrian city, Salzburg, little Mozart was growing up, who, while in the service of the count, would have to dine in the people's room, sitting above the footmen, but below the cooks.

Haydn had to carry out many large and small responsibilities - from writing music for holidays and celebrations and learning it with the choir and orchestra of the chapel to discipline in the chapel, costume features and the preservation of notes and musical instruments.

The Esterhazy estate was located in the Hungarian town of Eisenstadt. After the death of the elder Esterhazy, his son took over the estate. Prone to luxury and celebrations, he built a country residence - Eszterhaz. Guests were often invited to the palace, which consisted of one hundred and twenty-six rooms, and, of course, music had to be played for the guests. Prince Esterhazy went to the country palace for all the summer months and took all his musicians there.

Musician or servant?

A long period of service at the Esterhazy estate became the time of birth of many new works by Haydn. At the request of his master, he writes major works in various genres. Operas, quartets, sonatas, and other works come from his pen. But Joseph Haydn especially loves the symphony. This is a large, usually four-movement work for symphony orchestra. It was under Haydn’s pen that a classical symphony appeared, that is, an example of this genre on which other composers would later rely. During his life, Haydn wrote about one hundred and four symphonies (the exact number is unknown). And, of course, most of them were created by the bandmaster of Prince Esterhazy.

Over time, Haydn's position reached a paradox (unfortunately, the same thing would later happen to Mozart): they know him, they listen to his music, they talk about him in different European countries, but he himself cannot even go somewhere without the permission of his owner. The humiliation that Haydn experiences from such an attitude of the prince towards him sometimes slips into letters to friends: “Am I a bandmaster or a bandmaster?” (Chapel - servant).

Joseph Haydn's Farewell Symphony

It is rare for a composer to be able to escape from the circle of official duties, visit Vienna, and see friends. By the way, for some time fate brings him together with Mozart. Haydn was one of those who unconditionally recognized not only the phenomenal virtuosity of Mozart, but precisely his deep talent, which allowed Wolfgang to look into the future.

However, these absences were rare. More often than not, Haydn and the choir musicians had to linger in Eszterhaza. The prince sometimes did not want to let the chapel go to the city even at the beginning of autumn. In the biography of Joseph Haydn, interesting facts undoubtedly include the history of the creation of his 45th, so-called Farewell Symphony. The prince once again detained the musicians for a long time in the summer residence. The cold had long set in, the musicians had not seen their family members for a long time, and the swamps surrounding Eszterhaz were not conducive to good health. The musicians turned to their bandmaster with a request to ask the prince about them. A direct request would hardly help, so Haydn writes a symphony, which he performs by candlelight. The symphony consists not of four, but of five movements, and during the last one the musicians take turns standing up, putting down their instruments and leaving the hall. Thus, Haydn reminded the prince that it was time to take the chapel to the city. The legend says that the prince took the hint, and the summer holiday was finally over.

Last years of life. London

The life of the composer Joseph Haydn developed like a path in the mountains. It's hard to climb, but at the end - the top! The culmination of both his creativity and his fame came at the very end of his life. Haydn's works reached their final maturity in the 1980s. XVIII century. Examples of the style of the 80s include six so-called Parisian symphonies.

The composer's difficult life was marked by a triumphant conclusion. In 1791, Prince Esterhazy dies, and his heir dissolves the chapel. Haydn, already a well-known composer throughout Europe, becomes an honorary citizen of Vienna. He receives a house in this city and a lifelong pension. The last years of Haydn's life are very radiant. He visits London twice - as a result of these trips, twelve London symphonies appeared - his last works in this genre. In London, he gets acquainted with the work of Handel and, impressed by this acquaintance, for the first time tries himself in the oratorio genre - Handel's favorite genre. In his declining years, Haydn created two oratorios that are still known today: “The Seasons” and “The Creation of the World.” Joseph Haydn wrote music until his death.

Conclusion

We examined the main stages of the life of the father of the classical style in music. Optimism, the triumph of good over evil, reason over chaos and light over darkness, these are the characteristic features of the musical works of Joseph Haydn.

Franz Joseph Haydn is one of the most prominent representatives of the art of the Enlightenment. A great Austrian composer, he left a huge creative legacy - about 1000 works in a variety of genres. The main, most significant part of this heritage, which determined Haydn’s historical place in the development of world culture, consists of large cyclical works. These are 104 symphonies, 83 quartets, 52 keyboard sonatas, thanks to which Haydn gained fame as the founder of classical symphonism.

Haydn's art is deeply democratic. The basis of his musical style was folk art and music of everyday life. With amazing sensitivity he perceived folk melodies of various origins, the nature of peasant dances, the special coloring of the sound of folk instruments, some French song that had become popular in Austria. Haydn's music is imbued not only with the rhythms and intonations of folklore, but also with folk humor, inexhaustible optimism and vital energy. “Into the halls of the palaces, where his symphonies usually sounded, fresh streams of folk melody, folk jokes, something from folk ideas of life rushed with them” ( T. Livanova,352 ).

Haydn's art is related in style, but the range of his images and concepts have their own characteristics. High tragedy, ancient subjects that inspired Gluck are not his area. The world of more ordinary images and feelings is closer to him. The sublime principle is not at all alien to Haydn, but he does not find it in the sphere of tragedy. Serious thought, poetic perception of life, the beauty of nature - all this becomes sublime in Haydn. A harmonious and clear view of the world dominates both his music and his attitude. He was always sociable, objective and friendly. He found sources of joy everywhere - in the lives of peasants, in his works, in communication with close people (for example, with Mozart, whose friendship, based on internal kinship and mutual respect, had a beneficial effect on the creative development of both composers).

Haydn's creative path lasted about fifty years, covering all stages of the development of the Viennese classical school - from its origins in the 60s of the 18th century until the heyday of Beethoven's work.

Childhood years

The composer's character was formed in the working atmosphere of peasant life: he was born on March 31, 1732 in the village of Rohrau (Lower Austria) in the family of a carriage maker, his mother was a simple cook. From childhood, Haydn could hear the music of different nationalities, since among the local population of Rohrau there were Hungarians, Croats, and Czechs. The family was musical: the father loved to sing, accompanying himself by ear on the harp.

Paying attention to his son’s rare musical abilities, Haydn’s father sends him to the neighboring town of Hainburg to visit his relative (Frank), who served there as a school rector and choir director. Later, the future composer recalled that he received “more punches than food” from Frank; However, from the age of 5, he learned to play wind and string instruments, as well as the harpsichord, and sang in the church choir.

The next stage of Haydn's life is associated with the musical chapel at Cathedral of St. Stephen's in Vienna. The head of the choir (Georg Reuther) traveled around the country from time to time to recruit new choristers. Listening to the choir in which little Haydn sang, he immediately appreciated the beauty of his voice and rare musical talent. Having received an invitation to become a choir member at the cathedral, 8-year-old Haydn first came into contact with the rich artistic culture of the Austrian capital. Even then it was a city literally filled with music. Italian opera has long flourished here, academy concerts of famous virtuosos were held, and large instrumental and choral chapels existed at the imperial court and the houses of large nobles. But the main musical wealth of Vienna is its diverse folklore (the most important prerequisite for the formation of a classical school).

Constant participation in the performance of music - not only church music, but also opera - developed Haydn most of all. In addition, the Reuther Chapel was often invited to the imperial palace, where the future composer could hear instrumental music. Unfortunately, the choir valued only the boy’s voice, entrusting him with the performance of solo parts; the composer's inclinations, awakened already in childhood, went unnoticed. When his voice began to break, Haydn was fired from the chapel.

1749-1759 - the first years of independent life in Vienna

This 10th anniversary was the most difficult in Haydn's entire biography, especially at first. Without a roof over his head, without a penny in his pocket, he was extremely poor, wandering without a permanent shelter and doing odd jobs (occasionally he managed to find private lessons or play the violin in a traveling ensemble). But at the same time, these were also happy years, full of hope and faith in his vocation as a composer. Having bought several books on music theory from a second-hand bookseller, Haydn independently studied counterpoint, became acquainted with the works of the greatest German theorists, and studied the keyboard sonatas of Philipp Emmanuel Bach. Despite the vicissitudes of fate, he retained both his openness of character and his sense of humor, which never betrayed him.

Among the earliest works of the 19-year-old Haydn is the singspiel “The Lame Demon,” written at the suggestion of the famous Viennese comedian Kurtz (lost). Over time, his knowledge in the field of composition was enriched through communication with Niccolo Porpora, a famous Italian opera composer and vocal teacher: Haydn served as his accompanist for some time.

Gradually, the young musician gains fame in the musical circles of Vienna. Since the mid-1750s, he was often invited to participate in home musical evenings in the house of a wealthy Viennese official (named Fürnberg). For these home concerts, Haydn wrote his first string trios and quartets (18 in total).

In 1759, on the recommendation of Fürnberg, Haydn received his first permanent position - the position of conductor in the home orchestra of the Czech aristocrat, Count Morcin. It was written for this orchestra Haydn's first symphony- D major in three parts. This was the beginning of the formation of the Viennese classical symphony. Two years later, Morcin disbanded the choir due to financial difficulties, and Haydn entered into a contract with the richest Hungarian magnate, a passionate music fan, Paul Anton Esterhazy.

The period of creative maturity

Haydn worked in the service of the princes of Esterhazy for 30 years: first as vice-kapellmeister (assistant), and after 5 years as chief-kapellmeister. His duties included not only composing music. Haydn had to conduct rehearsals, maintain order in the chapel, be responsible for the safety of notes and instruments, etc. All of Haydn’s works were the property of Esterhazy; the composer did not have the right to write music commissioned by others, and could not freely leave the prince’s possessions. However, the opportunity to dispose of an excellent orchestra that performed all of his works, as well as relative material and everyday security, persuaded Haydn to accept Esterhazy’s proposal.

Living on the Esterhazy estates (Eisenstadt and Esterhase), and only occasionally visiting Vienna, having little contact with the wider musical world, during this service he became the greatest master on a European scale. Most (in the 1760s ~ 40, in the 70s ~ 30, in the 80s ~ 18), quartets and operas were written for the Esterházy Chapel and Home Theatre.

Musical life at the Esterhazy residence was open in its own way. Notable guests, including foreigners, attended concerts, opera performances, and receptions accompanied by music. Gradually, Haydn's fame spread beyond Austria. His works are successfully performed in major music capitals. Thus, in the mid-1780s, the French public became acquainted with six symphonies called “Parisian” (Nos. 82-87, they were created specifically for the Paris “Olympic Box Concerts”).

Late period of creativity.

In 1790, Prince Miklos Esterhazy died, bequeathing Haydn a lifelong pension. His heir dissolved the chapel, retaining the title of conductor for Haydn. Completely freed from service, the composer was able to fulfill his old dream - to travel outside of Austria. In the 1790s he made 2 tours trips to London at the invitation of the organizer of the “Subscription Concerts”, violinist I. P. Salomon (1791-92, 1794-95). Those written on this occasion completed the development of this genre in Haydn’s work and confirmed the maturity of Viennese classical symphonism (a little earlier, in the late 1780s, Mozart’s last 3 symphonies appeared). The English public enthusiastically received Haydn's music. At Oxford he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music.

The last owner of Esterhazy during Haydn's lifetime, Prince Miklos II, turned out to be a passionate lover of art. The composer was again called up for service, although his activities were now modest. Living in his own house on the outskirts of Vienna, he composed mainly masses for Eszterhaz (“Nelson”, “Theresia”, etc.).

Inspired by Handel's oratorios heard in London, Haydn wrote 2 secular oratorios - “The Creation of the World” (1798) and (1801). These monumental, epic-philosophical works, affirming the classical ideals of beauty and harmony of life, the unity of man and nature, worthily crowned the composer’s creative path.

Haydn passed away at the height of Napoleonic campaigns, when French troops had already occupied the capital of Austria. During the siege of Vienna, Haydn consoled his loved ones: “Don’t be afraid, children, where Haydn is, nothing bad can happen.”.

His younger brother Michael (who later also became a famous composer working in Salzburg), who had the same beautiful treble, was already singing in the choir.

A total of 24 operas in different genres, among which the most organic genre for Haydn was buffa. For example, the opera “Loyalty Rewarded” enjoyed great success with the public.

Born in , his father, a wheelwright, sent his son to study singing as a child. Soon (1740) the boy was accepted into the choir at the famous Viennese St. Stephen's Cathedral, where he sang for ten years. Along the way, the talented choir singer was taught to play various musical instruments, which allowed him to subsequently earn a living by playing the violin, harpsichord and organ. Working as an accompanist for the venerable Italian composer and vocal teacher N. Porpora, he began to try himself as a composer and received the teacher’s approval. Basically, of course, it was church music. Haydn's musical career progressed. For two years (1759 - 1761) he worked as music director for Count Morcin, and then as vice-bandmaster for Prince Esterhazy, an aristocrat with Hungarian roots. Paul Anton Esterházy took Haydn into his service after the death of G. I. Werner, already a famous composer in Austria, who served as bandmaster in his house. The duty of a musician is to compose music commissioned by the employer and lead an ensemble of musicians. In 1762, Nikolaus Esterhazy, the younger brother of the previous owner, who was nicknamed “The Magnificent,” became such a customer.

At first, Nikolaus Esterhazy lived near Vienna in Eisenstadt, in his family castle. Then he moved to a new castle, built in a cozy corner near the lake. At first, Haydn wrote mainly instrumental music (symphonies, plays) for the afternoon rest of the princely family and for concerts that the owner organized every week. In those years, Joseph wrote several symphonies, cantatas, 125 plays and church music, and from 1768, after the opening of a new theater in Eszterhaz, he began to write operas. In the early 70s, he gradually moved away from the entertainment content of his music. His symphonies become serious and even dramatic, such as “Complaint”, “Suffering”, “Mourning”, “Farewell”. Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy did not like such tragic music; he repeatedly pointed this out to the composer, but still gave him the right, with his permission, to write music for other orders. And the author writes “Solar Quartets,” which are distinguished by their courage, scale, and sophistication of writing. These quartets mark the beginning of the classic string quartet genre. And he himself is developing the characteristic style of a mature composer. He wrote several operas for the Esterhazy Theater: “The Pharmacist”, “Deceived Infidelity”, “Moonlight”, “Loyalty Rewarded”, “Armida”. But they were not available to the general public. However, European publishers discovered a new talent and willingly published his works.

The new agreement with Esterhazy deprived the latter of exclusive rights to Haydn's music. In the 80s his fame grew. He writes piano trios, sonatas, symphonies, string quartets, including those dedicated to the future Russian Emperor Paul, known as “Russians”. The new period of the composer’s work was also marked by six quartets in honor of the King of Prussia. They were distinguished by a new form, a special melody, and a variety of contrasts. Having gone beyond the borders of Central Europe, the orchestral passion piece entitled “Seven Words of the Savior on the Cross,” written by Joseph for a Spanish cathedral, also became known. This passion was subsequently arranged by the author for performance by a string quartet, choir, and orchestra, and it is still popular. After the death of Nikolaus Esterhazy (1790), Haydn remained in his house as conductor, but received the right to live in the capital and work abroad. For several years he has been working in, where he writes a lot: a concert symphony, music for choirs, several sonatas for piano, arranges folk songs, and the opera series “The Soul of a Philosopher” (based on the myth of Orpheus). There he became an honorary doctor of Oxford University, there the royal family listened to his music, there he became acquainted with the work of G.F. Handel. In 1795, Haydn had to return to Esterhazy. Now the main responsibility of the bandmaster was to compose masses in honor of the princess’s name day. He wrote six masses that have a symphonic scope, prayerful focus, and civic motifs inspired by the events of the Napoleonic Wars. The best instrumental concerto for trumpet and orchestra (1796), two monumental oratorios “The Creation of the World” and “The Seasons” are examples of the mature Haydn. In 1804 he was given the title of “Honorary Citizen of Vienna”. He hardly worked as a composer anymore. He died in Vienna on his birthday - March 31, 1809, leaving an indelible mark on the art of music.

We will conclude our story about the Viennese Troika with a biography of Haydn. All of them - Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn - are connected in one way or another. Beethoven was younger than all of them, inspired by creativity and studied with Haydn. But we have already talked about it in other articles.

Now we have a slightly different task - to succinctly talk about the Vienna Troika. Later we will tell you more about it, but for now... let's return to our topic.

Representative of the Vienna Classical School Franz Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn is a great Austrian composer, founder of classical instrumental music and the founder of the modern orchestra. Haydn is considered by many to be the father of the symphony and quartet.

Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in the small town of Rohrau, Lower Austria, into the family of a wheelwright. The composer's mother was a cook. The love of music was instilled in little Joseph by his father, who was seriously interested in vocals. The boy had excellent hearing and a sense of rhythm, and thanks to these musical abilities he was accepted into the church choir in the small town of Gainburg. Later he will move to Vienna, where he will sing in the choir chapel at the Cathedral of St. Stefan.

Haydn had a wayward character, and at the age of 16 he was expelled from the choir - at a time when his voice began to break. He is left without a livelihood. In such a hopeless situation, the young man takes on various jobs. He even has to be a servant to the Italian singing teacher Nikolai Porpora. But even working as a servant, Haydn did not give up music, but took lessons from the composer.

Seeing the young man's love for music, Porpora offers him the position of valet companion. He held this position for about ten years. As payment for his work, Haydn received music theory lessons, from which he learned a lot about music and composition. Gradually, the young man’s financial situation improves, and his musical works are crowned with success. Haydn is looking for a rich patron, which is the imperial prince Pal Antal Esterhazy. Already in 1759, the young genius composed his first symphonies.

Haydn married rather late, at the age of 28, to Anna Maria Cller, and, as it turned out, unsuccessfully. Anna Maria often showed disrespect for her husband's profession. There were no children, which also played an important role, introducing additional discord into the family. But despite all this, Haydn was faithful to his wife for 20 years. But after so many years, he suddenly fell in love with 19-year-old Luigia Polzelli, an Italian opera singer, and even promised to marry her, but soon this passionate affection passed.

In 1761, Haydn became the second bandmaster at the court of the Esterházy princes, one of the most influential families in Austria. During his rather long career at the Esterházy court, he composed a huge number of operas, quartets and symphonies (104 in total). His music evokes the admiration of many listeners, and his skill reaches perfection. He becomes famous not only in his homeland, but also in England, France, and Russia. In 1781, Haydn met, who became his close friend. In 1792 he met the young man and took him on as a student.

Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809)

Upon arrival in Vienna, Haydn wrote his two famous oratorios: “The Creation of the World” and “The Seasons.” Composing the oratorio “The Seasons” was not easy, he was tormented by headaches and insomnia. After writing his oratorios, he writes almost nothing.

Life has been too stressful, and the composer’s strength is gradually leaving him. Haydn spent his last years in Vienna, in a small secluded house.

The great composer died on May 31, 1809. Later, the remains were transferred to Eisenstadt, where many years of his life passed.

104 symphonies, 83 quartets, 52 piano sonatas, 2 oratorios, 14 masses and 24 operas.