Joseph Haydn

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Joseph Haydn

• (1732-1809)

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Haydns Early life

• Musical background until six years old- Folk
  songs and peasant dances
• Age eight- Choirboy in the Cathedral of St.
  Stephen, dismissed when his voice changed
• Gave music lessons, taught himself composition,
  took odd jobs until 1761
• Hired by the Esterházys, the richest and most
  powerful of the Hungarian noble families
• Composed for the Esterházys for 30 years

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Haydns Under the Esterhazys

• Composed for performances in the palaces of the
  family, including Eszterháza, which had and opera
  house, a theater, two concert halls, and 126
  guest rooms
• Hired to compose music, conduct the orchestra,
  coach singers, oversee instruments and music
  library
• Usually two concerts and operas per week, as well
  as daily chamber music
• Word spread and Haydn became immensely popular

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Haydns later life

• Visited London twice- One from 1791 to 1792 and
  again from 1794 to 1795
• Composed twelve symphonies for his visited, now
  called the London Symphonies
• Appearances in London were incredibly successful
• Given an honorary doctorate from Oxford
• Composed six masses and two oratorios in his late
  sixties
• Died in 1809

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Haydns Works

• Composed over 750 pieces and arranged over 300
  songs, including
• 104 symphonies
• 45 piano trios
• 2 oratorios- The Creations and The Seasons
• Over 70 String Quartets
• 15 operas
• 14 operas

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Haydns Style

• Robust and direct style
• Much of the music has a folk flavor
• Short, simple motifs are used to develop larger
  forms
• Uses humor in music- sudden loud chords, false
  endings, inventive rhythmic section
• Generally upbeat pieces

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Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major, First Movement

• Written for the new keyed trumpet, which was not
  restricted in the notes it could play
• Festive and radiant
• Theme played by orchestra before being taken up
  by the trumpet
• Evolves into a fanfare-like melody

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String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 33 No 2,
Movement IV

• Nicknamed The Joke
• In a Rondo form- ABACA
• A section is in the tonic and is subdivided into
  aabaab
• B begins in the subdominant (Ab), then moves to F
  minor, then back to Eb major for the second A
• C is new, but does not modulate
• Whats the Joke?
• Haydn adds progressively longer pauses in the
  coda, making the audience think the piece is over