JOSEPH HAYDN

By: Matt

Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria. His father, Mathias, was a wheelwright. He had 11 brothers and sisters but only 6 kids lived. There were three girls and three boys. When he was six, he went to live with his uncle Johann Frank. His uncle was the headmaster at a school. He lived with him for 2 years. Haydn's uncle did this because he knew Haydn had talent.(1) He was trained as a choirboy at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna from 1740 to 1750.(6) The choirboys sang at the cathedral for events and at people's home. The choirboys were taught math, Latin, religion, and writing. Haydn's voice broke when he was in his early teens.

His younger brother Michael joined the choir and got all of the solo parts. Joseph played silly pranks to get attention. In November of 1749, Haydn cut off a boy's pigtail and was kicked out of the choir. After he left the choir he made money by singing, played the violin and teaching.(1)

Haydn composed his first quartet in 1755 on the encouragement of a musical amateur.(7) In 1759 he was made the music director to Count Marzin.(6) This was the first regular paycheck he ever got.(1) Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy heard him play his symphony and wanted him to be his music director. Before he went to work for the Prince he married a woman named Maria Anna Keller on November 26, 1760.(1)

The Esterhazy family was very wealthy. Prince Paul Anton died in 1762 and his brother Nikolaus became the Prince. Prince Nikolaus built a new palace with a music house.(3) In Vienna in 1781 Haydn met Mozart and became close friends.(4) In 1790 Prince Nikolaus died and Haydn left the palace.(1)

In 1793 Haydn took Beethoven with him to Eisenstadt. Haydn was 60 years of age and Beethoven was 22.(5) In his life, Haydn wrote 104 symphonies and 84 string quartets.(2) On May 31, 1809 Haydn died at the age of 77.(1)

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