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Franz Joseph HaydnBorn March 31, 1732Died May 31, 1809
Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in a town located near the border of Austria and Hungary. From the very start he showed musical talent. Shortly before he was six years old his parents sent him to the nearby town of Hainburg where he learned to read and write as well as study music with wind and string instruments. He later wrote about his childhood, saying, "Our Almighty Father had endowed me with such fertility in music that even in my sixth year I stood up like a man and sang masses in the church choir and I could play a little on the clavier and violin. Proper teachers I never had. I always started right away with the practical side first in singing and playing instruments, later in composing. I listened more than I studied, but I heard the finest music in all forms that was to be heard in my time.....Thus little by little my knowledge and my ability were developed." Physically he was short and dark, and his face had the scars of smallpox, which may be the reason he never commissioned a portrait. However, he must have been a very nice person to know because of his good humor, integrity and common sense.. He had a very kind manner and had no enemies. Haydn lived at a time when musicians were considered servants, but he wasn't especially impressed with those of the "upper class". He wrote, "I have had converse with emperors, kings and great princes, and have heard many flattering remarks from them, but I do not wish to live on a familiar footing with such persons, and I prefer people of my own class." He was a well-adjusted person and his music reflects that fact. Although he was very talented as a child his career was one of slow, steady growth. When he was eight years old he was recruited into the choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral, where he became one of the star pupils. After his voice broke, when he was 17 years old, he was dismissed from St Stephens and for several years thereafter his time was spent in teaching, playing at social functions and arranging music. During this time he studied the music of C.P.E. Bach and had a few music lessons with Nicola Porpora, a famous composer. Little by little his reputation grew, and in 1758 he was appointed as music director and composer for Count Ferdinand Maximilian von Morzin.
In 1761 Haydn entered th service of the richest family in Hungary, the Esterhazys, as vice-Kapellmeister. Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, called the "Magnificent",was family head. He had built himself a new castle at the cost of millions and named it "Esterhaza". It was considered to be the greatest castle in Europe except for Versailles. It contained a 400-seat opera theater. In 1766 Haydn became the kapellmeister. He was very busy, directing the orchestra, composing music, being the librarian, and doing the administrative work. His underlings liked his unruffled, level-headed manner and called him "Papa".
The Prince was an ardent music lover and Haydn knew how fortunate he was to be in the Prince's service, saying, "My Prince was always satisfied with my work. Not only did I have the encouragement of constant approval, but as conductor of an orchestra I could make experiments, observe what produced an effect and what weakened it, and was thus in a position to improve, to alter, to make additions or omissions, and be as bold as I pleased. I was cut off from the world; there was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." Haydn had a good salary, a maid, a coachman, a carriage and horses and authority over a group of skilled musicians who had been selected by him.
In 1790 Prince Nicholas died and his successor, Anton, wasn't very interested in music. The orchestra was dismissed except for a few musicians. Haydn was kept on, but there was little for him to do and he was free to go wherever he wished, so he chose to go to Vienna. Late in 1790 he made a decision to go to London, where he arrived on January 1st, 1791. London at that time had more music than any other capital and Haydn's arrival created much excitement. His London sojourn was very lucrative for Haydn, and he was even able to make a return trip in 1794, where he remained until August 15, 1795. After he returned from his second London trip, Prince Anton died and the new family head, Nicholas II, asked for the orchestra to be restored to play for church services. This left him with a fair amount of extra time, and it was at this time that he composed the Austrian National Anthem. In 1802 he was released from his official duties and he lived quietly in Vienna although he was one of the most celebrated people in Austria. He enjoyed sitting at home and receiving visitors. On May 31, 1809 he died. He once had written, "Since God has given me a cheerful heart, He will forgive me for serving him cheerfully."
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