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Composer Profile 3
Joseph Haydn
Papa Haydn.
Haydn lived an amazingly long musical life, and left behind countless pieces of music.
In the sheer volume of work, he has few peers.
For the listener there are many treasures to be found among the surviving 104 symphonies, 84 string quartets, 18 operas, 31 piano trios, 52 Piano Sonatas, 12 masses, etc. etc. He was a busy man.
Part of the reason for Haydn’s fecundity was his long contractual arrangements with his employers, the Emperors of Austria. He served much of his long life in a countryside estate, cut off from many of the musical trends of the time. He made good use of his time and experimented and perfected what he knew.
The result? Haydn became the figurehead, if not the founder of the “Classical” style (1750-1810). He has been known affectionately as “Papa Haydn” ever since. Mozart and Beethoven adored his music - What higher praise does his music need?
Here is but a sample of some of Haydn’s better-known music. There is plenty more to explore!
- Cello Concerto no. 2 in D major, Hob.VIIb:2 – 3. Allegro
- Fantasia in C Major, Hob.XVII:2
- Piano Sonata in C Major, Hob.XVI:50 – 2. Adagio
- String Quartet in D major, op. 33, no. 6, Hob III:22, – 1. Vivace assai
- String Quartet in D major, op. 64, no. 5, Hob III:63, “The Lark” – 1. Allegro moderato
- Symphony No.88 in G major, Hob.I:88 – 2. Largo
- Symphony No.94 in G major, Hob.I:94 “The Surprise” – 2. Andante
- Symphony No.101 in C major, Hob.I:101 “The Clock” – 3. Menuetto
- Symphony No.104 in D major, Hob.I:104 - “London” – 3. Menuetto e Trio: Allegro
- Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob. VIIe:1 – 2. Andante
- Hofstetter (Formerly attributed to Haydn) – Serenade (String Quartet in F major, op. 3, no. 5) - Andante Cantabile
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