Comparison: The Little Aristocrat And The Choirboy

Solinne Jung

1001355712

October 8th, 2015

MUS325

Parker

The Little Aristocrat and The Choirboy

During the Age of Enlightenment, the birth of a new musical style emerged known as the Classical era. The classical period can be identified by its clear texture, consistent rhythm, and singing melodies, but can also be distinguished by two notable classical composers: Haydn and Mozart. Although they were both composers from the same era, by comparing the early lives of Haydn and Mozart, I will demonstrate that these two completely different characters share more differences than similarities by contrasting their musical educations, musical development and employment, and finally, the influences on their musical style. Undeniably, both Haydn and Mozart displayed early

Born in small town of Rohrau, Austria, Haydn had humble beginnings; his father, Mathias, was a wheelwright, and mother, Anna Maria Koller, was a cook, but together, were a musically inclined family that played and sang as a past time. Albeit limited, this is how Haydn received his first basic instructions on music. By the age of six, Haydn’s parents made the ultimate sacrifice to send him away with Johann Mathias Franck in order to further develop his capabilities. In Hainburg, under the instruction of Franck, Haydn’s education improved immensely, learning to read, write, sing, and play numerous instruments. To quote Griesinger, Haydn was even “grateful” for how much he learned with Franck. Then, after being recruited by Georg Reutter, Haydn travelled to Vienna where he sang at