MI: LIBRARY: PEOPLE: HAYDN

Joseph Haydn
March 31, 1732 -to- May 31, 1809
Classical
Austrian

Haydn was born to humble parents and after his musical talents were discovered he moved in with a cousin who built on Haydn’s natural musical genius. From there on he would never again see his parents excluding rare and quick visits.

At a young age of 6 Haydn began singing in a church choir, playing multiple instruments, and acquiring a large knowledge of music theory. This was noticed by a musical director of Vienna who invited 8 year old Haydn to become a chorister at the Austian capital’s most important church. Pending his parents’ acceptance of the offer he would gain enormous performance skills through frequent performances, but little teaching of music theory was available leaving Haydn to cover the area on his own.

At the age of 17, Haydn’s voice was no longer of value to the church, and he was left with no money, in a miserable state, until an Italian composer recognized his potential. With the Italian composer Haydn thrived and would be put in charge of an orchestra by a nobleman he had often entertained. Unfortunately, financial difficulties of the patron forced the orchestra to be dismissed and Haydn accepted a new offer by the Esterházys, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Austria. Haydn would continue to serve them right to his death.

Although Haydn remained with this family, deaths would continually place new relatives in command and this was to Haydn’s benefit as these new “leaders” had more respect for Haydn then past “leaders”. It was with this that Haydn managed to climb ever higher in rank as a musician and composer. Haydn’s growing reputation in Europe brought him to become good friends with Mozart, the two enhancing each other’s style significantly.

Haydn was married to Maria Anna Keller in 1760 and this marriage produced no happiness. The woman had no respect for Haydn or his music and often used his manuscripts as pan liners or curl papers. Perhaps in revenge, Haydn did nothing to hide his attraction to other women and held an affair with a young Italian singer.

Eventually, changes in the Esterházys family would put in charge a prince who cared little for music and dismissed many musicians. Haydn, however, was kept and continued to be paid although nothing was ever asked of him. Not being needed, Haydn took on composing for another musician and performed in London earning much money and respect. He would later teach Beethoven as well. After many more sucesses, Haydn began an obsession with thoughts of death. They interrupted his composing and haunted him to his actual death on May 31, 1809.

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