Let’s get to know the great composer Josef Haydn (1732-1809), surely among the most influential of all composers. He was instrumental in elevating string quartets, piano sonatas, symphonies and oratorios to the level of high art. Yet not everything about him was serious. Many of his works are imbued with flashes of charm and humor. He was truly a composer for all time.
Ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Joseph Haydn, and I am grateful for the chance to share a little of my story with you.
I was born in 1732, in the small Austrian village of Rohrau. My father was a wheelwright, my mother a cook, and though we were not wealthy, music filled our home. From those modest beginnings, I was sent as a boy to sing in the choir of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. There, I learned the discipline of music, though I also learned what it was to be hungry, and to persevere.
For much of my career, I served the noble Esterházy family. At their court I had the great fortune of steady work, fine instruments, and musicians who could bring my ideas to life. It was in those years, somewhat isolated from the wider world, that I composed tirelessly—symphonies, string quartets, operas, masses. I used to say, “I was cut off from the world; there was no one near to confuse me, so I had to become original.”
I have been called the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet.” Titles such as these elicit an internal smile: I did not invent these forms, but I devoted myself to shaping them, giving them balance, surprise, and a voice that could sing, dance, and sometimes laugh. My “Surprise” Symphony, my “Farewell” Symphony, my “Creation” oratorio—these are but glimpses of the joy and reverence I sought to place in music.
Later in life, I traveled to London, where I was met with affection and recognition beyond anything I had known. To hear audiences cheer, to see them moved by my music—after years of quiet service—was one of the great gifts of my life.
I lived long enough to mentor young composers, including a fiery genius named Mozart, whom I loved like a son, and to watch Beethoven, once my pupil, surpass us all with his daring.
My own path was not always easy. As a young man, I knew real hunger and often lacked proper training; later, long years in service could be isolating, and in my final days deafness and frailty were my companions. Yet through all of this, music remained my strength and my joy. It gave me the means to rise above circumstance, to speak without words, and to bring order and light where there was silence. Above all, I am grateful to have been able to fulfill my calling, and I do hope my music will continue to please and cheer many audiences.
Thank you for lending me your ear.
Major Compositions for Your Listening Pleasure on Classical Archives*
Haydn’s legacy lies not just in his prolific output of over 100 symphonies, 68 string quartets, numerous piano sonatas, and vocal works, but in his pioneering spirit that expanded musical possibilities and laid the groundwork for the future evolution of Western classical music.
Symphonies
Explore all the recordings of Haydn symphonies on Classical Archives HERE
We also recommend THIS ALBUM of Haydn Symphonies and other works from Brilliant Classics, played by the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, conducted by Adan Fischer
Concertos
Explore all the recordings of Haydn concertos for keyboard and other instruments on Classical Archives HERE
We also recommend this EXCELLENT MULTI-DISK RECORDING from Capriccio of Haydn’s concertos for trumpet, cello and other works, performed by soloists with the Capella Coloniensis, conducted by Joshua Rifkin on a 12-CD set
Chamber Music
Find all the recordings of Haydn’s later string quartets available on Classical Archives HERE
We also recommend this EXCELLENT RECORDING of three quartets from Naxos, including the remarkable “Fifths” quartet, played by the Kodaly Quartet
Piano Music
Check out all the recordings of Haydn Piano Sonatas on Classical Archives HERE
We also recommend THIS ALBUM of Haydn sonatas from Naxos, played by Jenö Jandö
Oratorios
Listen to this EXCELLENT RECORDING of The Creation on Accentus Music featuring the Gȁchinger Kantorei Stuttgart and soloists, conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann
And don’t miss this EXCELLENT RECORDING of the Haydn Mass No. 11 in D minor (the “Lord Nelson Mass”) from Naxos
* Please note that in order to listen, you must be a member of Classical Archives. If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join now. Free 14-day trial memberships are now available.
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