Hi, I am Franz Joseph Haydn, an 18th-century Austrian composer of the Classical period, and I played a major role in the development of chamber music. As one of the most prominent composers of my time, I am often referred to as the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet" in recognition of my immense contribution to musical form.
I was born on March 31st, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. My dad, Mathias Haydn, was a wheelwright and my mom, Maria, worked as a cook before marrying my father. Both of my parents, especially my father, loved music since he was a folk musician who taught himself to play the harp. When I started displaying my musical gift from an early age, my parents sent me to live with their relative, Johann Matthias …show more content…
I blossomed into a good singer and performed in a choir while I was just a boy. I grew up to be a very talented singer and instrumentalist, but faced many struggles in my attempts to get established into a profession. I finally found work as a valet—accompanist for the Italian composer Nicola Porpora—from whom I learned the fundamentals of composition. My talents got me noticed by Georg von Reutter, the musical director of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, and he invited me to serve as a chorister in Vienna’s most important church. My skills developed over time and soon I started writing music along with playing instruments. I gained much in stature over the next few years and was appointed as a musical director and chamber composer for the Bohemian count Ferdinand Maximilian von Morzin, in 1758. In this position, I was made in charge of an orchestra of about 16 musicians. After working with Morzin for three years I accepted a similar job offered by Prince Paul Anton, the head of the wealthy Esterházy family, in 1761. My official title was Vice-Kapellmeister and I was placed in charge of most of the Esterházy musical establishment. The old Kapellmeister, Gregor Werner, died in 1766 and I was elevated to Kapellmeister. I served the Esterházy family for nearly three decades and greatly raised the quality of the prince’s musical ensembles by appointing a number of gifted instrumentalists and singers. The Esterházy family was very supportive of my ambitious plans and greatly appreciated my musical contributions. Over the course of my employment, I had the good fortune of working in an environment highly conducive to the development of my musical
I was born on March 31st, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. My dad, Mathias Haydn, was a wheelwright and my mom, Maria, worked as a cook before marrying my father. Both of my parents, especially my father, loved music since he was a folk musician who taught himself to play the harp. When I started displaying my musical gift from an early age, my parents sent me to live with their relative, Johann Matthias …show more content…
I blossomed into a good singer and performed in a choir while I was just a boy. I grew up to be a very talented singer and instrumentalist, but faced many struggles in my attempts to get established into a profession. I finally found work as a valet—accompanist for the Italian composer Nicola Porpora—from whom I learned the fundamentals of composition. My talents got me noticed by Georg von Reutter, the musical director of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, and he invited me to serve as a chorister in Vienna’s most important church. My skills developed over time and soon I started writing music along with playing instruments. I gained much in stature over the next few years and was appointed as a musical director and chamber composer for the Bohemian count Ferdinand Maximilian von Morzin, in 1758. In this position, I was made in charge of an orchestra of about 16 musicians. After working with Morzin for three years I accepted a similar job offered by Prince Paul Anton, the head of the wealthy Esterházy family, in 1761. My official title was Vice-Kapellmeister and I was placed in charge of most of the Esterházy musical establishment. The old Kapellmeister, Gregor Werner, died in 1766 and I was elevated to Kapellmeister. I served the Esterházy family for nearly three decades and greatly raised the quality of the prince’s musical ensembles by appointing a number of gifted instrumentalists and singers. The Esterházy family was very supportive of my ambitious plans and greatly appreciated my musical contributions. Over the course of my employment, I had the good fortune of working in an environment highly conducive to the development of my musical