Haydin

Born in 1732, Joseph Haydn grew up in a small village that was located about a

six-hour coach ride east of Vienna (today the two are about an hour apart by car).

His family loved to sing together, and perceiving that their son had musical talent,

apprenticed six-year-old Joseph Haydn to a relative who was a schoolmaster and

choirmaster. As an apprentice, Haydn learned harpsichord and violin and sang in

the church. So distinct was Haydn’s voice that he was recommended to Vienna’s St.

Stephen’s Cathedral’s music director. In 1740 Haydn

became of student of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. He

sang with the St. Stephen’s Cathedral boys’ choir for

almost ten years, until his voice broke (changed). Af-

ter searching, he found a job as valet to the Italian

opera composer Nicola Porpora and most likely

started studying music theory and music composi-

tion in a systematic way at that time. He composed a

comic musical and eventually became a chapel mas-

ter for a Czech nobleman. When this noble family fell

into hard times, they released Haydn. In 1761, he be-

came a Vice-Chapel Master for an even wealthier no-

He was considered a skilled servant, who soon be-

Page | 126UNDERSTANDING MUSIC MUSIC OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

came their head Chapel Master and was highly prized, especially by the second and

most musical of the Esterházy princes for whom Haydn worked.

The Esterházys kept Haydn very busy: he wrote music, which he played both

for and with his patrons, ran the orchestra, and staged operas. In 1779, Haydn’s

contract was renegotiated, allowing him to write and sell music outside of the Es-

terházy family. Within a decade, he was the most famous composer in Europe. In

1790, the musical Prince Nikolaus Esterházy died and his son Anton downsized

the family’s musical activities. This shift allowed Haydn to accept an offer to give a

concert in London, England, where his music was very popular. Haydn left Vienna

for London in December. For the concerts there, he composed an opera, sympho-

nies, and chamber music, all of which were extremely popular. Haydn revisited

London twice in the following years, 1791 to 1795, earning—after expenses—as

much as he had in twenty years of employment with the Esterházys. Nonetheless,

a new Esterházy prince decided to reestablish the family’s musical foothold, so

Haydn returned to their service in 1796. In the last years of his life, he wrote two

important oratorios (he had been much impressed by performances of Handel’s

oratorios while in London) as well as more chamber music.