Composer Joseph Haydn biography. Joseph Haydn: interesting data and facts from life

Joseph Haydn was released by fate long life- the composer died at the age of 77, but not only because of his creative heritage so extensive: he wrote more than a hundred symphonies alone.

The future composer was born in the village of Rorau, located in the possessions of the counts of Harrach in Lower Austria. There is a peculiar secret in the composer's biography: in his works he willingly quoted Croatian folk melodies, and in the area where he was born, representatives of this people live now, lived then - along with the Hungarians and Czechs ... it is not excluded (although not proven ) that the "father of the symphony" could have Slavic roots.

Matthias Haydn - Joseph's father - was a carriage master, but the family was fond of amateur music making, which allowed parents to notice musical ability boy. For learning choral singing, playing the violin and harpsichord, he was sent to his relatives in Hainburg an der Donau. Here, the director of the chapel of the Vienna Cathedral drew the attention of a talented boy, and the eight-year-old Joseph went to Vienna, where he worked as a chorister for several years. Often he performed solo, because Josef had an excellent treble, but only this was appreciated in him: no one taught him compositions, and when the young man's voice began to break, he was simply thrown out into the street.

Dragging out a half-starved existence, earning a penny by private lessons and playing the violin in a wandering ensemble, the young man, despite the circumstances, improved his composing skills. He is studying clavier music Philipp Emmanuel Bach, delves into the musical and theoretical works of German authors. For the composition lessons that Nicola Porpora gave him, Haydn was not able to pay and instead of paying he worked them out as an accompanist in singing lessons and even as a servant.

Luck smiled on Haydn in 1759 - he became the conductor of the court chapel of Count Morcin. In the service of this aristocrat, Haydn wrote his first symphonies and quartets. True, he did not stay as bandmaster of Mortsin for long - in 1761 the count dissolved his chapel, but during this time another aristocrat, the Hungarian prince Esterhazy, managed to pay attention to the composer. He accepted Haydn to the post of vice-kapellmeister, and in 1766 - bandmaster. In this position, he was obliged to direct the orchestra, compose music and even stage operas.

Perhaps the position of the court bandmaster played a certain role in what a huge legacy Haydn left - often, by order of Prince Esterhazy, the composer had to not only write a symphony in one day, but also learn it with the court orchestra. And yet, the main explanation for such high productivity lies in the “method” that Joseph Haydn himself once described: every morning, having made a prayer, he set to composing music, and if he didn’t succeed, he prayed again - and worked again ... truly , he was a "craftsman" in the best, highest sense of the word - a man whose whole life was spent in tireless work ... Perhaps he learned this from his father - a carriage master?

Haydn entered the history of music as the "father of the symphony". This genre existed before, but it was in Haydn's work that the sonata-symphony cycle became what we know it now - three parts in a sonata and four in a symphony, each of which has something that is not in the others ... The quintessence of classicism thinking with his cult of reason and measure. This scheme turned out to be so successful that it did not collapse either under the pressure of the passions of romanticism or in the storms of the 20th century - it changed, appeared in a new quality, but always remained - and we owe this to Joseph Haydn.

At first, Haydn's works, written in the service of Esterhazy, were considered the property of this aristocratic family, but in 1779 the contract was changed, and the composer received the right to sell his scores to publishers. This contributed to the international fame of the composer.

At the court of Esterhazy, Haydn served for about thirty years. In 1790, the prince died, his son disbanded the orchestra, but according to the prince's will, the composer received a lifelong pension. Thanks to this, Haydn was able to go abroad, which he could not afford before. Twice the composer visited London, where his music enjoyed great success. For the first time in many years, the composer had the opportunity to work with large orchestras and perform in large halls before the general public, and not before a narrow circle of aristocrats. The composer's twelve symphonies, written at this time and known as the London Symphonies, became the pinnacle of his symphonic work.

Exceptional performance allowed Haydn to surprise the world at the age of 67. At this age, when people are already reluctant to take on something new, the composer created a work in a genre that he had previously addressed only once and without special success- the oratorio "", which the critic Alexander Serov later called "a gigantic creation." Two years later, a new masterpiece in the oratorio genre followed - "". Oratorios have become a "spectacular point" creative way Haydn. In the last years of his life, he no longer created music. The composer passed away in 1809 - shortly after the Napoleonic troops attacked Vienna.

According to the composer himself, most of all in a difficult life and tireless work, he was supported by the realization that his work would serve people as “a source from which a burdened, weary soul, burdened with troubles, will draw calm and vigor.” One cannot but agree with this when listening to his sonatas, symphonies and oratorios.

Music Seasons

Born in, his father, a wheel master, gave his son to learn singing as a child. Soon (1740), the boy was accepted into the choir at the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where he sang for ten whole years. Along the way, a talented chorister was taught to play on different musical instruments, which allowed him to later earn a living playing the violin, harpsichord and organ. Working as an accompanist for a venerable Italian composer and vocal teacher N. Porpora, he began to try himself as a composer and received the approval of the teacher. Basically, of course, it was church music. Haydn's musical career advanced. For two years (1759 - 1761) he worked as a music director for Count Mortsin, and then as a vice-dropmaster for Prince Esterhazy, an aristocrat with Hungarian roots. Paul Anton Esterhazy took Haydn into service after the death of G. I. Werner, already a well-known composer in Austria, who served as bandmaster in his house. The duty of a musician is to compose music commissioned by the employer and lead an ensemble of musicians. In 1762, Nikolaus Esterhazy, the younger brother of the former owner, who was nicknamed "The Magnificent", became such a customer.

Initially, Nikolaus Esterhazy lived near Vienna in Eisenstadt, in his family castle. Then he moved to a new castle, built in a cozy corner near the lake. At first, Haydn wrote mainly instrumental music (symphonies, plays) for the afternoon rest of the princely family and for concerts that the owner arranged every week. In those years, Joseph wrote several symphonies, cantatas, 125 plays and church music, and from 1768, after the opening of a new theater in Estergaz, he began to write operas. In the early 70s he gradually moved away from the entertainment content of his music. His symphonies become serious and even dramatic, such as "Complaint", "Suffering", "Funeral", "Farewell". Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy did not like such tragic music, he repeatedly pointed this out to the composer, but nevertheless gave him the right, with his permission, to write music on other orders. And the author writes "Solar Quartets", distinguished by their courage, scale, and sophistication of writing. With these quartets, the classical genre of the string quartet begins. And he himself is forming the characteristic handwriting of a mature composer. He wrote several operas for the Esterhazy Theater: The Apothecary, Deceived Infidelity, Lunar Peace, Loyalty Rewarded, Armida. But they were not available to the general public. However, European publishers discovered a new talent and willingly published his works.

The new contract with Esterhazy deprived the latter of exclusive rights to Haydn's music. In the 80s, his fame grows. He writes piano trios, sonatas, symphonies, string quartets, including those dedicated to the future Russian emperor Paul, known as the Russians. new period The composer's work was also marked by six quartets in honor of the King of Prussia. They were distinguished by a new form, and a special melody, and a variety of contrasts. Going beyond Central Europe, an orchestral passion called "Seven Words of the Savior on the Cross", written by Josef for a Spanish cathedral, also became known. This passion was later arranged by the author for performance by a string quartet, choir, orchestra, and it is still popular today. After the death of Nikolaus Esterhazy (1790), Haydn remained in his house as bandmaster, but received the right to live in the capital and work abroad. For several years he has been working in , where he writes a lot: a concert symphony, music for choirs, several sonatas for piano, processes folk songs, opera-series "The Philosopher's Soul" (based on the myth of Orpheus). There he became an honorary doctor of Oxford University, where the royal family listened to his music, where he got acquainted with the work of G.F. Handel. In 1795 Haydn had to return to Esterhazy. Now the main duty of the Kapellmeister was to compose masses in honor of the name day of the princess. He wrote six masses, which have a symphonic scope, prayerful concentration and civic motifs inspired by the events of the Napoleonic wars. Best instrumental concert for trumpet and orchestra (1796), two monumental oratorios "The Creation of the World" and "The Seasons" are examples of the mature Haydn. In 1804 he was given the title of "Honorary Citizen of Vienna". As a composer, he almost did not work. He died in Vienna on his birthday - March 31, 1809, leaving an indelible mark on the art of music.

One of the greatest composers of all time is Franz Joseph Haydn. Brilliant musician of Austrian origin. The man who created the foundations of the classical music school, as well as the orchestral-instrumental standard that we observe in our time. In addition to these merits, Franz Josef represented the Vienna Classical School. There is an opinion among musicologists that the musical genres of symphony and quartet were first composed by Joseph Haydn. The talented composer lived a very interesting and eventful life.

Brief biography Joseph Haydn and many interesting facts read about the composer on our page.

Short biography of Haydn

Haydn's biography began on March 31, 1732, when little Joseph was born in the fair commune of Rorau (Lower Austria). His father was a wheelwright and his mother worked as a kitchen maid. Thanks to his father, who loved to sing, the future composer became interested in music. Absolute pitch and an excellent sense of rhythm were bestowed on little Josef by nature. These musical abilities allowed the talented boy to sing in the Gainburg church choir. Later, Franz Josef, due to the move, will be admitted to the Vienna choir chapel at the Catholic Cathedral of St. Stephen.

Due to stubbornness, sixteen-year-old Josef lost his job - a place in the choir. This happened just at the time of the voice mutation. Now he has no income for existence. Out of desperation, the young man takes on any job. The Italian vocal maestro and composer Nicola Porpora took the youngster as his servant, but Josef found profit in this work as well. The boy goes deep into musical science and starts taking lessons from the teacher.

Porpora could not fail to notice that Josef had genuine feelings for music, and on this basis famous composer decides to propose to the young man interesting work- Become his personal valet companion. Haydn held this position for almost ten years. The maestro paid for his work mainly not with money, he worked with young talent music theory and harmony. So a talented young man learned many important musical fundamentals in different directions. Over time, Haydn's material problems slowly begin to disappear, and his initial compositional works are successfully accepted by the public. At this time, the young composer writes the first symphony.

Despite the fact that in those days it was already considered "too late", Haydn only at the age of 28 decides to start a family with Anna Maria Keller. And this marriage was unsuccessful. According to his wife, Josef did not have a decent profession for a man. Within two dozen life together the couple never had children, which also affected the unfortunate family history. With all these troubles, musical genius Been a faithful husband for 20 years. But an unpredictable life brought Franz Josef to a young and charming opera singer Luigia Polzelli, who at the time of their acquaintance was only 19 years old. Passionate love befell them, and the composer promised to marry her. But the passion faded rather quickly, and he did not keep his promise. Haydn seeks patronage among rich and powerful people. In the early 1760s, the composer got a job as the second bandmaster in the palace of the influential Esterhazy family (Austria). For 30 years, Haydn has been working at the court of this noble dynasty. During this time, he composed a huge number of symphonies - 104.

Haydn did not have many close friends, but one of them was - Amadeus Mozart . Composers meet in 1781. After 11 years, Joseph is introduced to the young Ludwig van Beethoven, whom Haydn makes his student. Service at the palace ends with the death of the patron - Josef loses his position. But the name of Franz Joseph Haydn has already thundered not only in Austria, but also in many other countries such as: Russia, England, France. During his time in London, the composer earned almost as much in one year as he did in 20 years as bandmaster for the Esterházy family, his former employers.

The last work of the composer is the oratorio "The Seasons". He composes it with great difficulty, he was hampered by a headache and problems with sleep.

The great composer dies at the age of 78 (May 31, 1809) Joseph Haydn spent last days at his home in Vienna. Later it was decided to transport the remains to the city of Eisenstadt.

Interesting Facts

• It is generally accepted that Joseph Haydn's birthday is March 31st. But, in his certificate, another date was indicated - April 1. According to the composer's diaries, such a minor change was made in order not to celebrate his holiday on "April Fool's Day".
• Little Josef was so talented that at the age of 6 he could play the drums! When the drummer, who was supposed to take part in the Great Week procession, suddenly died, Haydn was asked to replace him. Because the future composer was not tall, due to the peculiarities of his age, then a hunchback walked in front of him, who had a drum tied on his back, and Josef could calmly play the instrument. The rare drum still exists today. It is located in the Hainburg Church.
• The young Haydn's singing voice was so impressive that he was asked to join the choir school at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna when the boy was only five years old.
• The choirmaster of St. Stephen's Cathedral suggested that Haydn be subjected to a certain operation to prevent the breakage of his voice, but fortunately the father of the future composer stepped in and prevented this.
• When the composer's mother died at the age of 47, his father quickly married a young maid, who was 19 years old. The difference between the age of Haydn and the stepmother was only 3 years, and the "son" turned out to be older.
• Haydn loved a girl who for some reason decided that life in a monastery was better than family life. Then the musical genius called the elder sister of his beloved, Anna Maria, to marry. But this thoughtless decision did not lead to anything good. The wife turned out to be grumpy and did not understand her husband's musical hobbies. Haydn wrote that Anna Maria used his music manuscripts as kitchen utensils.

• Haydn's biography contains interesting legend about the name of the String Quartet f-moll "Razor". One morning, Haydn was shaving with a dull razor, and when his patience snapped, he shouted that if he were given a normal razor now, he would give his wonderful work for this. At that moment, John Blend was nearby, a man who wanted to publish the composer's manuscripts, which no one had yet seen. After hearing this, the publisher did not hesitate to hand over their English steel razors to the composer. Haydn kept his word and presented the new work to the guest. Thus, the String Quartet received such an unusual name.
• It is known that Haydn had a very strong friendship with Mozart. Mozart greatly respected and revered his friend. And if Haydn criticized the work of Amadeus or gave any advice, Mozart always listened, Joseph's opinion for young composer always came first. Despite the peculiar temperaments and age difference, the friends had no quarrels and disagreements.

• "Miracle" - this is the name attributed to symphonies No. 96 in D-dur and No. 102 in B-dur. All this is due to one story that happened after the concert of this work ended. People rushed to the stage to thank the composer and bow before him for the most beautiful music. As soon as the audience was at the front of the hall, a chandelier fell behind them with a crash. There were no casualties - and it was a miracle. Opinions differ on the premiere of which particular symphony this amazing incident occurred.
• The composer suffered for more than half his life with polyps in his nose. This became known to the surgeon, and part-time good friend Joseph to John Hunter. The doctor recommended to come to him for an operation, which Haydn first decided on. But, when he came to the office where the operation was to take place and saw 4 big assistant surgeons, whose task was to hold the patient during the painful procedure, the brilliant musician got scared, broke out and shouted loudly. In general, the idea of ​​getting rid of polyps has sunk into oblivion. As a child, Josef suffered from smallpox.

• Haydn has a Symphony with timpani beats, or it is also called "Surprise". The history of the creation of this symphony is interesting. Josef periodically toured London with the orchestra, and one day he noticed how some of the audience fell asleep during the concert or were already watching beautiful dreams. Haydn suggested that this happens because the British intelligentsia are not used to listening to classical music and have no special feelings for art, but the British are a people of traditions, so they always attended concerts. The composer, the soul of the company and the merry fellow, decided to act cunningly. After a short thought, he wrote a special symphony for the English public. The work began with quiet, smooth, almost lulling melodic sounds. Suddenly, in the process of sounding, a drum beat and thunder of timpani were heard. Such a surprise was repeated in the work more than once. So, Londoners no longer fell asleep in concert halls where Haydn conducted.
• When the composer died, he was buried in Vienna. But later it was decided to rebury the remains of the genius of music in Eisenstadt. When opening the grave, it was discovered that Josef's skull was missing. It was a trick of two friends of the composer who took their own head by bribing people in the cemetery. For almost 60 years (1895-1954), the skull of the Viennese classic was located in the museum (Vienna). It wasn't until 1954 that the remains were reunited and buried together.

• Mozart was delighted with Haydn and often invited him to his concerts, and Joseph reciprocated the young child prodigy and often played with him in a quartet. It is noteworthy that at the funeral of Haydn sounded "Requiem" by Mozart who died 18 years before his friend and teacher.
• A portrait of Haydn can be found on the German and Soviet postage stamps issued in 1959 on the 150th anniversary of the composer's death, and on the Austrian 5 euro coin.
• The German anthem and the old Austro-Hengen anthem owe their music to Haydn. After all, it was his music that became the basis of these patriotic songs.

Films about Joseph Haydn

Based on Haydn's biography, many informative documentaries have been shot. All these films are interesting and captivating. Some of them are more about musical achievements and discoveries of the composer, and some tell various facts from the personal life of the Viennese classic. If you would like to get to know it better musical figure, then we bring to your attention a small list of documentaries:

• Film company "Academy media" filmed a 25-minute documentary"Haydn" from the "Famous Composers" series.
• In the vastness of the Internet you can find two interesting films "In Search of Haydn". The first part lasts a little over 53 minutes, the second 50 minutes.
• Haydn is described in some episodes from the documentary section "History by Notes". From episodes 19 to 25, each of which lasts less than 10 minutes, you can explore interesting biographical data of the great composer.
• There is a short documentary from Encyclopedia Chanel about Joseph Haydn that is only 12 minutes long.
• An interesting 11-minute film about Haydn's perfect pitch can also be easily found on the Internet "Perfect pitch - Franz Joseph Haydn".

• In Gaia Ritchie's 2009 Sherlock Holmes, the Adagio from String Quartet No. 3 in D-dur is heard during the scene, where Watson and his fiancée Mary dine with Holmes at a restaurant called The Royal.
• The 3rd movement of the cello concerto is used in the 1998 English film Hilary and Jackie.
• The Piano Concerto is featured in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can.
• Minuet from the 33rd sonata inserted into musical accompaniment movie "Runaway Bride" (continued) famous movie"Gorgeous").
• Adagio e cantibile from Sonata No. 59 is used in The Vampire Diaries 1994 starring Brad Pitt.
• Sounds of the string quartet B-dur "Sunrise" are heard in the horror film "Relic" in 1997.
• In the magnificent film "The Pianist", which received 3 Oscars, Haydn's quartet No. 5 sounds.
• Also, string quartet No. 5 comes from music for films " Star Trek: Uprising" 1998 and "Fort
• Symphonies #101 and #104 can be found in the 1991 film "Lord of the Tides".
• The 33rd string quartet is used in the 1997 comedy George of the Jungle.
• The third part of string quartet No. 76 "Emperor" can be found in the films "Casablanca" 1941, "Bullworth" 1998, "Cheap Detective" 1978, and "The Dirty Dozen".
• The Trumpet Concerto is featured in "The Big Deal" with Mark Wahlberg.
• In Bicentennial Man, based on the book of the brilliant science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, you can hear Haydn's symphony No. 73 "The Hunt".

Haydn House Museum

In 1889, the Haydn Museum was opened in Vienna, which is located in the composer's house. For 4 whole years, Josef slowly built his "corner" from the money earned during the tour. Initially, there was a low house, which, at the behest of the composer, was rebuilt by adding floors. The second floor was the residence of the musician himself, and below he settled his assistant Elsper, who copied the notes of Haydn.

Almost all exhibits in the museum are the personal property of the composer during his lifetime. Handwritten notes, painted portraits, the instrument that Haydn worked on, and other interesting things. It is unusual that the building has a small room designed Johannes Brahms . Johannes greatly respected and honored the work of the Viennese classic. This hall is filled with his personal belongings, furniture and tools.

Unfortunately, when they talk about the Viennese classics, they first of all remember Ludwig Van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But many musicologists are sure that if there were no such brilliant composer How Franz Joseph Haydn, we would not know about others greatest talents era of classicism. Essays and Haydn's compositions and stood at the origins of all classical music and gave her the opportunity to develop and improve to the present day.

Video: watch a film about Joseph Haydn

On our website) wrote up to 125 symphonies (of which the first were designed for string orchestra, oboes, horns; the latter, in addition, for flute, clarinets, bassoons, trumpets and timpani). Of Haydn's orchestral works, the Seven Words of the Savior on the Cross and over 65 divertissements, cassations, etc. are also known. In addition, Haydn wrote 41 concertos for a wide variety of different instruments, 77 string quartets, 35 trios for piano, violin and cello, 33 trios for other instrumental combinations, 175 pieces for baritone (Count Esterhazy's favorite instrument), 53 piano sonatas, fantasies, etc., and many other instrumental works. Of Haydn's vocal works are known: 3 oratorios, 14 masses, 13 offertorias, cantatas, arias, duets, trios, etc. Haydn wrote 24 more operas, most of which were intended for a modest home theater Count Esterhazy; Haydn himself did not want their execution elsewhere. He also composed the Austrian national anthem.

Portrait of Joseph Haydn. Artist T. Hardy, 1791

Haydn's significance in the history of music is based mainly on his symphonies and quartets, which have not lost their lively artistic interest even today. Haydn completed that process of secession instrumental music from vocal, which long before him began on the basis of dance forms and whose main representatives before Haydn were S. Bach, his son Em. Bach, Sammartini and others. The sonata form of the symphony and quartet, as developed by Haydn, served as the basis of instrumental music for the entire classical period.

Joseph Haydn. The best works

Haydn's merit is also great in the development of the orchestral style: he was the first to initiate the individualization of each instrument, highlighting its characteristic, original properties. One instrument he often opposes to another, one orchestral group- another. That is why Haydn's orchestra is distinguished by hitherto unknown life, variety of sonorities, expressiveness, especially in recent writings, not left without the influence of Mozart, who was a friend and admirer of Haydn. Haydn also expanded the form of the quartet, and by the nobility of his quartet style he gave it a special and profound significance in music. "Old cheerful Vienna", with its humor, naivety, cordiality and, at times, unbridled agility, with all the conventions of the era of the minuet and pigtails, was reflected in the works of Haydn. But when Haydn had to convey a deep, serious, passionate mood in music, he also achieved strength here, unprecedented among his contemporaries; in this respect he adjoins directly to Mozart and

Franz Joseph Haydn. Born March 31, 1732 - died May 31, 1809. Austrian composer, a representative of the Viennese classical school, one of the founders of such musical genres as the symphony and the string quartet. The creator of the melody, which later formed the basis of the anthems of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732, on the estate of the counts of Harrach, the Lower Austrian village of Rorau, not far from the border with Hungary, in the family of the carriage master Matthias Haydn (1699-1763).

Parents, who were seriously fond of vocals and amateur music-making, discovered musical abilities in the boy and in 1737 sent him to relatives in the city of Hainburg-on-the-Danube, where Josef began to study choral singing and music. In 1740, Joseph was noticed by Georg von Reutter, director of the chapel of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. Reitter took a talented boy to the chapel, and for nine years (from 1740 to 1749) he sang in the choir (including several years with his younger brothers) of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where he also studied playing instruments.

The chapel was the only school for little Haydn. As his abilities developed, he was assigned difficult solo parts. Together with the choir, Haydn often performed at city festivities, weddings, funerals, took part in court celebrations. One such event was the funeral of Antonio Vivaldi in 1741.

In 1749, Josef's voice began to break, and he was kicked out of the choir. The ten years that followed were very difficult for him. Josef took on various jobs, including being a servant and briefly being an accompanist for the Italian composer and singing teacher Nicola Porpora, from whom he also took composition lessons. Haydn tried to fill in the gaps in his musical education, diligently studying the works of Emmanuel Bach and the theory of composition. Studying musical works predecessors and theoretical works of I. Fuchs, I. Mattheson and others, Joseph Haydn made up for the lack of a systematic music education. The sonatas for harpsichord written by him at that time were published and attracted attention. His first major compositions were two masses brevis, F-dur and G-dur, written by Haydn in 1749 before he left the chapel of St. Stephen's Cathedral.

In the 50s of the XVIII century, Joseph wrote a number of works that marked the beginning of his fame as a composer: the singspiel (opera) "The New Lame Demon" (staged in 1752, Vienna and other cities of Austria - has not survived to this day), divertissements and serenades , string quartets for the musical circle of Baron Furnberg, about a dozen quartets (1755), first symphony (1759).

In the period from 1754 to 1756 Haydn worked at the Vienna court as a free artist. In 1759, the composer received the post of bandmaster ( music director) at the court of Count Karl von Morzin, where under the leadership of Haydn there was a small orchestra, for which the composer composed his first symphonies. However, von Morzin soon began to experience financial difficulties and stopped the activities of his musical project.

In 1760 Haydn married Marie-Anne Keller. They had no children, which the composer was very sorry about. His wife treated him very coldly. professional activity, used his scores for papillottes and pate stands. It was an extremely unhappy marriage, and the laws of that time did not allow them to disperse. Both took lovers.

After the disbandment of the musical project of the financially collapsed Count von Morzin (1761), Joseph Haydn was offered a similar job with Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy, head of the extremely wealthy Esterhazy family. At first, Haydn held the position of vice-kapellmeister, but he was immediately admitted to the leadership of most of Esterhazy's musical institutions, along with the old Kapellmeister Gregor Werner, who retained absolute authority only for church music.

In 1766, a fateful event occurred in Haydn's life - after the death of Gregor Werner, he was elevated to Kapellmeister at the court of the Esterhazy princes, one of the most influential and powerful aristocratic families of Austria. The responsibilities of the bandmaster included composing music, directing the orchestra, playing chamber music in front of the patron and staging operas.

1779 becomes a turning point in the career of Joseph Haydn - his contract was revised: while previously all his compositions were the property of the Esterhazy family, now he was allowed to write for others and sell his works to publishers.

Soon, taking into account this circumstance, Haydn shifts the emphasis in his composing activity: he writes less operas and creates more quartets and symphonies. In addition, he is negotiating with several publishers, both Austrian and foreign. Of Haydn's new employment contract, Jones writes: "This document acted as a catalyst for the next phase of Haydn's career - the achievement of international popularity. By 1790, Haydn was in the paradoxical, if not strange, position of being the leading composer of Europe, but bound by the action of a previously signed contract, was spending his time as bandmaster in a remote palace in the Hungarian countryside.

During his almost thirty-year career at the court of Esterhazy, the composer composed a large number of works, his fame is growing. In 1781, while in Vienna, Haydn met and became friends with. He gave music lessons to Sigismund von Neukom, who later became his close friend.

On February 11, 1785, Haydn was initiated into the Masonic lodge "To True Harmony" ("Zur wahren Eintracht"). Mozart was unable to attend the dedication as he was at a concert by his father Leopold.

During the XVIII century in a number of countries (Italy, Germany, Austria, France and others) there were processes of formation of new genres and forms of instrumental music, which finally took shape and reached their peak in the so-called "Viennese classical school" - in the works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven . Instead of polyphonic texture great importance acquired a homophonic-harmonic texture, but at the same time in large instrumental works often included polyphonic episodes that dynamize the musical fabric.

Thus, the years of service (1761-1790) with the Hungarian princes Esterházy contributed to the flourishing creative activity Haydn, which peaked in the 80s - 90s of the 18th century, when mature quartets (starting with opus 33), 6 Parisian (1785-86) symphonies, oratorios, masses and other works were created. The whims of the philanthropist often forced Josef to give up creative freedom. At the same time, work with the orchestra and choir led by him had a beneficial effect on his development as a composer. For the chapel and home theater Esterhazy wrote most of the symphonies (including the widely known "Farewell", (1772)) and operas of the composer. Haydn's trips to Vienna allowed him to communicate with the most prominent of his contemporaries, in particular with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

In 1790, Prince Nicholas Esterhazy died, and his son and successor, Prince Anton Esterhazy, not being a music lover, disbanded the orchestra. In 1791 Haydn received a contract to work in England. Subsequently, he worked extensively in Austria and Great Britain. Two trips to London (1791-1792 and 1794-1795) at the invitation of the organizer of the "Subscription Concerts" violinist I.P. Zalomon, where he wrote his best symphonies for Zalomon's concerts (12 London (1791-1792, 1794-1795) symphonies) , expanded their horizons, further strengthened their fame and contributed to the growth of Haydn's popularity. In London, Haydn gathered huge audiences: Haydn's concerts attracted a huge number of listeners, which increased his fame, contributed to the collection of large profits, and, ultimately, allowed him to become financially secure. In 1791, Joseph Haydn was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oxford University.

Passing through Bonn in 1792, he met the young Beethoven and took him on as an apprentice.

Haydn returned and settled in Vienna in 1795. By that time, Prince Anton had died and his successor, Nicholas II, proposed to revive Esterhazy's musical institutions under the leadership of Haydn, who again acted as bandmaster. Haydn accepted the offer and took the offered vacancy, albeit on a part-time basis. He spent his summers with Esterhazy in the city of Eisenstadt, and over the course of several years wrote six masses. But by this time Haydn becomes public figure in Vienna and spends most of his time in his own big house in Gumpendorf (German: Gumpendorf), where he wrote several works for public performance. Among other things, Haydn wrote two of his famous oratorios in Vienna: The Creation of the World (1798) and The Seasons (1801), in which the composer developed the traditions of H. F. Handel's lyric-epic oratorios. Joseph Haydn's oratorios are marked by a new for this genre juicy everyday character, a colorful embodiment of natural phenomena, they reveal the composer's skill as a colorist.

Haydn tried his hand at all kinds musical composition However, not all genres of his work manifested itself with the same force. In the field of instrumental music, he is rightly considered one of the greatest composers of the second half of the 18th and early 19th centuries. The greatness of Joseph Haydn as a composer was manifested to the maximum in his two final works: large oratorios - The Creation of the World (1798) and The Seasons (1801). The oratorio "The Seasons" can serve as an exemplary standard of musical classicism. Towards the end of his life, Haydn enjoyed enormous popularity. In subsequent years, this successful period for Haydn's work is faced with the onset of old age and failing health - now the composer must fight to complete his work. Work on oratorios undermined the strength of the composer. His last works were the Harmoniemesse (1802) and the unfinished string quartet opus 103 (1802). By about 1802, his condition had deteriorated to the point where he was physically unable to compose. The last sketches date back to 1806, after which date Haydn did not write anything.

The composer died in Vienna. He died at the age of 77 on May 31, 1809, shortly after the attack on Vienna by the French army led by Napoleon. Among his last words there was an attempt to calm his servants when a cannonball fell in the vicinity of the house: "Do not be afraid, my children, for where Haydn is, no harm can be." Two weeks later, on June 15, 1809, a memorial service was held in the church of the Scottish Monastery (German: Shottenkirche), at which Mozart's Requiem was performed.

The composer created 24 operas, wrote 104 symphonies, 83 string quartets, 52 piano (clavier) sonatas, 126 trios for baritone, overtures, marches, dances, divertissements for orchestra and various instruments, concertos for clavier and other instruments, oratorios, various pieces for clavier, songs, canons, arrangements of Scottish, Irish, Welsh songs for voice and piano (violin or cello optional). Among the compositions are 3 oratorios (“Creation of the World”, “Seasons” and “Seven Words of the Savior on the Cross”), 14 masses and other spiritual works.

Most famous operas Haydn:

The Lame Demon (Der krumme Teufel), 1751
"True Constancy"
Orpheus and Eurydice, or the Soul of a Philosopher, 1791
"Asmodeus, or the New Lame Imp"
"Pharmacist"
Acis and Galatea, 1762
"Desert Island" (L'lsola disabitata)
"Armida", 1783
Fisherwomen (Le Pescatrici), 1769
"Deceived infidelity" (L'Infedeltà delusa)
"An Unforeseen Meeting" (L'Incontro improviso), 1775
Lunar World (II Mondo della luna), 1777
"True constancy" (La Vera costanza), 1776
Loyalty Rewarded (La Fedeltà premiata)
Roland the Paladin (Orlando Raladino), a heroic-comic opera based on the plot of Ariosto's poem "Furious Roland".

The most famous masses of Haydn:

small mass (Missa brevis, F-dur, circa 1750)
great organ mass Es-dur (1766)
Mass in honor of St. Nicholas (Missa in honorem Sancti Nicolai, G-dur, 1772)
mass of st. Caecilians (Missa Sanctae Caeciliae, c-moll, between 1769 and 1773)
small organ mass (B-dur, 1778)
Mariazelle Mass (Mariazellermesse, C-dur, 1782)
Mass with timpani, or Mass during the war (Paukenmesse, C-dur, 1796)
Mass Heiligmesse (B-dur, 1796)
Nelson-Messe (Nelson-Messe, d-moll, 1798)
Mass Teresa (Theresienmesse, B-dur, 1799)
mass with a theme from the oratorio "The Creation" (Schopfungsmesse, B-dur, 1801)
mass with wind instruments (Harmoniemesse, B-dur, 1802).