The Father of the Symphony: A Biography of Joseph Haydn

Introduction

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer who stands as one of the most pivotal figures in the development of classical music. Often referred to as the “Father of the Symphony” and the “Father of the String Quartet,” Haydn’s innovative contributions to musical form and style laid much of the groundwork for the Classical period. His prolific output, spanning over a hundred symphonies, numerous string quartets, operas, and oratorios, profoundly influenced subsequent generations of composers, including his close friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his student Ludwig van Beethoven. Born into humble beginnings, Haydn’s journey from a small Austrian village to becoming one of Europe’s most celebrated musicians is a testament to his enduring talent, perseverance, and remarkable adaptability. This biography will explore the various stages of his life, from his early musical awakening to his significant compositional achievements and lasting legacy.

Childhood

Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732, in Rohrau, Austria, a small village situated near the border with Hungary. His family was of modest means; his father, Mathias Haydn, was a wheelwright and also served as the village’s marketplace supervisor, while his mother, Maria Koller, had worked as a cook in the palace of Count Harrach. Despite their humble background and neither parent being able to read music, the Haydn household was notably musical. Mathias Haydn was an enthusiastic folk musician who had taught himself to play the harp, and family gatherings often involved singing with neighbors.

Haydn’s parents quickly recognized their son’s exceptional musical aptitude. Understanding that Rohrau offered no opportunities for formal musical training, they accepted an offer from their relative Johann Matthias Frankh, a schoolmaster and choirmaster in the nearby town of Hainburg. At the tender age of six, Haydn left his parental home to live with Frankh, a decision that marked the beginning of his lifelong musical journey. He would rarely return to Rohrau thereafter, save for brief visits.

Life in the Frankh household was challenging for young Haydn. He later recalled experiencing frequent hunger and humiliation due to the poor state of his clothing. Nevertheless, his musical education began in earnest. He quickly learned to play both the harpsichord and the violin and sang treble parts in the church choir. His singing talent soon caught the attention of Georg Reutter the Younger, the director of music at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, who was visiting Hainburg in search of new choirboys. Haydn’s successful audition led to his relocation to Vienna in 1740, where he would spend the next nine years as a chorister at one of Europe’s leading musical centers.

Youth

Haydn’s nine years as a chorister at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna were formative, though not without hardship. Living in the Kapellhaus alongside Reutter, his family, and other choirboys, Haydn received instruction in Latin, other school subjects, voice, violin, and keyboard. However, formal training in music theory and composition was minimal, with Reutter providing only two lessons during his entire tenure. Despite this lack of structured theoretical instruction, Haydn gained invaluable practical experience by constantly performing as a professional musician in one of Europe’s most significant musical hubs.

By 1749, Haydn’s voice had matured, making him unsuitable for the high choral parts required of a chorister. A prank involving snipping a fellow chorister’s pigtail provided Reutter with a pretext to dismiss him. At 17, Haydn found himself on the streets of Vienna, penniless and with few possessions. He was fortunate to find temporary refuge with a friend, Johann Michael Spangler, who shared his cramped garret room. During this period, Haydn embarked on an arduous path of self-instruction, diligently studying musical works, particularly those of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, whom he later acknowledged as a significant influence. He also delved into leading manuals of musical theory, including Johann Joseph Fux’s Gradus ad Parnassum.

Haydn supported himself through various odd musical jobs, including teaching and serenading. A crucial turning point came in 1752 when he became a valet-accompanist for the Italian composer and singing teacher Nicola Porpora. Haydn credited Porpora with teaching him “the true fundamentals of composition.” As his skills grew, so did his reputation. He gained aristocratic patronage, a necessity for composers of his era. Countess Thun, impressed by his compositions, engaged him as a singing and keyboard teacher. Later, through the recommendation of Karl Joseph von Fürnberg, Haydn was engaged as musical director and chamber composer for the Bohemian count Ferdinand Maximilian von Morzin in 1758. For Morzin’s orchestra of about 16 musicians, Haydn composed his first symphony and numerous divertimenti, showcasing his fresh melodic invention and early signs of his characteristic wit, even though these early works remained conventional in style.

Adulthood

Haydn’s brief tenure with Count Morzin ended due to the Count’s financial difficulties, which led to the dismissal of his orchestra. However, this setback proved to be a pivotal moment in Haydn’s career. In 1761, he was invited to join the service of Prince Pál Antal Esterházy, one of the wealthiest and most influential noble families in the Austrian Empire, renowned for their patronage of music. Haydn was initially appointed as assistant conductor at the Esterházy court in Eisenstadt, a small town near Vienna. His duties included conducting the orchestra, coaching singers, composing most of the required music, and managing the musical personnel. He performed his responsibilities with remarkable tact, good nature, and skill, quickly earning the respect of his employer.

Upon Prince Pál Antal’s death in 1762, his brother, Prince Miklós Esterházy, became the head of the family. Prince Miklós, a passionate music connoisseur and performer on the baryton (a now-obsolete string instrument), provided an ideal environment for Haydn’s artistic development. In 1766, Haydn was promoted to full music director (Kapellmeister) at the Esterházy court. Under his leadership, the quality and size of the prince’s musical ensembles significantly improved. Haydn composed extensively for the court, including operas, symphonies, string quartets, and over 150 baryton compositions specifically for Prince Miklós. This period of relative isolation at the Esterházy estates, particularly Eszterháza, a grand new palace built in rural Hungary, famously led Haydn to declare that he was “forced to become original.”

During his nearly three decades with the Esterházy family, Haydn frequently visited Vienna, where he developed a close and mutually inspiring friendship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart, who dedicated a superb set of six string quartets to Haydn, acknowledged learning from the elder composer how to write quartets. Haydn, in turn, was receptive to Mozart’s influence, demonstrating his flexibility and openness to new ideas even in his maturity. By the 1760s, Haydn’s fame had begun to spread across Europe, with his church music, symphonies, divertimenti, sonatas, and concertos being widely disseminated through Austrian and Czech monasteries and collected by aristocratic patrons.

From 1768 to about 1774, Haydn entered a period of significant compositional maturity, producing works such as the Stabat Mater (1767), the large-scale Missa Sancti Nicolai (1772), the Opus 20 string quartets, the Piano Sonata in C Minor, and several symphonies in minor keys, including the poignant Trauersymphonie (No. 44). His operatic output during these years also enhanced his and the Esterházy court’s reputation. The 1780s saw further innovations, including his six Opus 33 quartets, which set a new standard for the genre, and the commission for the Paris Symphonies (1785–1786). He also composed The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross (1786), a work of profound emotional depth.

In 1790, Prince Miklós Esterházy died, and his successor, Prince Anton, showed less interest in maintaining the lavish musical establishment. Haydn was effectively released from his duties, though he retained his title and salary. This newfound freedom allowed him to travel, leading to his highly successful “English period.” In December 1790, Haydn embarked on his first journey to London, invited by the impresario Johann Peter Salomon. His concerts in London were met with immense enthusiasm, and he composed his final twelve symphonies, known as the London Symphonies (Nos. 93-104), which represent the pinnacle of his orchestral output. These symphonies, including the famous Surprise (No. 94), Military (No. 100), and Drumroll (No. 103), solidified his international fame and earned him significant financial success. During his time in England, he also received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University.

Haydn returned to Vienna in 1795, where he spent the remainder of his life. Although he no longer held a full-time court position, he continued to compose prolifically. His later years were marked by the creation of his two great oratorios, The Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801), which were immensely popular and further cemented his legacy. He also composed six masses for Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy, who had revived the family’s musical establishment. Despite declining health in his final years, Haydn remained a revered figure, receiving numerous honors and accolades.

Major Compositions

Joseph Haydn’s immense compositional output is characterized by its innovation, wit, and profound influence on the development of classical music forms. He is widely credited with establishing the fundamental structures of the symphony and the string quartet, transforming them into the sophisticated genres we recognize today.

His contributions to the symphony are unparalleled, earning him the title “Father of the Symphony.” Haydn composed over 100 symphonies, each demonstrating his mastery of orchestral writing and formal development. His early symphonies, such as those written for Count Morzin, showed promise, but it was during his tenure with the Esterházy family that he truly refined the genre. The Paris Symphonies (Nos. 82-87), commissioned for a Parisian concert series, showcase his growing international appeal and compositional maturity. The pinnacle of his symphonic achievement, however, lies in his twelve London Symphonies (Nos. 93-104), composed during his visits to England. These works, including the famous Surprise Symphony (No. 94), with its unexpected loud chord; the Military Symphony (No. 100), featuring prominent percussion; and the Drumroll Symphony (No. 103), with its distinctive opening, are celebrated for their melodic invention, dramatic flair, and structural ingenuity.

Haydn’s role in the development of the string quartet is equally significant, leading to his designation as the “Father of the String Quartet.” He composed 68 string quartets, evolving the genre from a light entertainment form into a vehicle for serious musical expression. His Opus 20 quartets, known as the “Sun Quartets,” mark a crucial turning point, demonstrating a new level of contrapuntal sophistication and emotional depth. The six Opus 33 quartets, which he described as being written in “an entirely new and special way,” further solidified the genre’s importance and influenced subsequent composers like Mozart.

Beyond symphonies and string quartets, Haydn’s oeuvre encompasses a wide range of genres. His operatic output, though less frequently performed today, was substantial, with numerous works composed for the Esterházy court. Notable among his sacred works are the Stabat Mater (1767) and the large-scale Missa Sancti Nicolai (1772). In his later years, he turned to the oratorio, producing two monumental works that remain cornerstones of the repertoire: The Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801). These oratorios, inspired by Handel’s works, are celebrated for their vivid musical depictions of nature and profound spiritual expression.

Other significant compositions include his numerous piano sonatas, such as the Piano Sonata in C Minor, and his baryton trios, written for Prince Miklós Esterházy. His concertos, including the popular Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major, also demonstrate his versatility and melodic gift. Haydn’s innovative approach to form, his melodic genius, and his ability to infuse his music with both profound emotion and playful humor ensured his lasting legacy as one of the giants of classical music.

Death

Joseph Haydn lived a long and remarkably productive life, passing away at the age of 77 on May 31, 1809, in Vienna, Austria. His final years were marked by declining health, which gradually limited his ability to compose. Despite his physical frailties, his mind remained sharp, and he continued to receive visitors and enjoy the company of friends and admirers. His death occurred during a tumultuous period in European history, as Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army occupied Vienna. French soldiers reportedly stood guard outside his home as a mark of respect for the revered composer.

Haydn’s funeral was a solemn affair, attended by many prominent figures from Viennese society and the musical world. He was initially buried in the Hundsturm cemetery in Vienna. However, in 1820, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the Bergkirche in Eisenstadt, at the request of Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy, where they rest today. Haydn’s passing marked the end of an era, but his musical legacy continued to flourish, influencing generations of composers and shaping the course of classical music.

Conclusion

Joseph Haydn’s life and work represent a monumental chapter in the history of Western music. From his humble beginnings in rural Austria to his celebrated status as the leading composer of his time, Haydn’s journey was one of relentless dedication, innovation, and artistic growth. His profound influence on the development of the symphony and the string quartet laid the foundational principles for the Classical style, shaping the musical landscape for generations to come. His ability to infuse his compositions with both intellectual rigor and emotional depth, coupled with his characteristic wit and charm, created a unique and enduring musical language.

Haydn’s legacy extends beyond his formal innovations. He was a composer who understood the human spirit, crafting music that could be both profoundly moving and delightfully entertaining. His oratorios, particularly The Creation and The Seasons, continue to inspire awe with their vivid depictions of the natural world and their celebratory spirit. His symphonies and quartets remain cornerstones of the repertoire, performed and cherished by audiences worldwide. Haydn’s mentorship of younger composers, notably Beethoven, further solidified his role as a central figure in the Classical era. His music, characterized by its clarity, balance, and expressive power, continues to resonate with listeners, a testament to the timeless genius of “Papa Haydn.”