Joseph Haydn
The cheerful, inventive composer who shaped the symphony and string quartet, mentoring both Mozart and Beethoven.
1732–1809 (age 77)·Austrian composer·Birthday: March 31
Biography
Joseph Haydn's story is one of remarkable perseverance and good-humored innovation. Born in a rural Austrian village, his talent earned him a place as a choirboy in Vienna, but he was cast out at 17 and spent years scraping by as a freelance musician and teacher. His big break came at 29, when he was hired by the wealthy Esterházy family. For nearly three decades, isolated at their remote estate, he had his own orchestra to experiment with, calling himself 'forced to become original.' It was here that he essentially invented the classical symphony and string quartet, establishing the four-movement structure and conversational style that would define the genres. Far from a stuffy court composer, Haydn was known for his wit and surprising musical jokes. In his later years, freed from service, he achieved international fame with triumphant visits to London, composing some of his greatest works. Esteemed by his peers, he became a father figure to Mozart and a teacher to the young Beethoven, providing the foundational language upon which they built their revolutions.
#1 When Joseph Was Born
The biggest hits of 1732
Joseph's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1732Born
1737Started school
1745Became a teenager
1748Could drive
1750Could vote
1753Turned 21
1762Turned 30
1772Turned 40
1782Turned 50
1792Turned 60
1802Turned 70
1809Died at 77
Key Achievements
- Composed 106 symphonies, fundamentally establishing the form's structure and orchestral style for the Classical era.
- Wrote 68 string quartets, effectively creating and refining the genre as a conversation among four equal voices.
- Created the oratorios 'The Creation' and 'The Seasons,' which remain cornerstones of the choral repertoire.
- Served as Kapellmeister for the Esterházy family for almost 30 years, producing a vast amount of music in near-total artistic freedom.
Did You Know?
He and Mozart were close friends and admired each other's work deeply; they sometimes played in string quartets together.
The sudden loud chord in his 'Surprise' Symphony (No. 94) was allegedly meant to wake up dozing audience members.
He suffered from nasal polyps for much of his life, and a botched operation in his old age left him disfigured.
When Napoleon's forces besieged Vienna in 1809, he ordered his guards to protect the elderly and famous composer.
“Since God has given me a cheerful heart, He will forgive me for serving Him cheerfully.”
