Franz Haydn Accomplishments

Ever since Franz was a young boy he was always involved with music. From singing in the choir at the age of eight to becoming a street musician at the age of sixteen, Haydn would be a musician to his death teaching, composing, and playing music. Haydn, among other creators of the classical music era, was one of the greatest creating one hundred and four symphonies. Hayden also influenced many other composers.

Hayden was born on March 31st 1732. His father Mathias Haydn was a wheelwright and his mother Maria Koller was a cook before she got married. His father was also a musician in folk music. He had a love for music and also taught himself how to play the harp. Franz also had two siblings Johann Evangelist Haydn and Michael Haydn. At the age

In 1752 Haydn became a valet – accompanist to Nicola Porpora the Italian singing teacher and composer. This is where he truly learned the fundamentals of composition. In 1753 he premiered his first composition ‘Der krumme Teufel’ (“The Limping Devil”). In 1758, he was appointed the position of musical director and chamber composer for Morzin. In 1760 Haydn married his ex-girlfriends older sister Maria Anna Keller. This marriage was not good for either spouse because they were unhappy and had other lovers. In this marriage Haydn bared no children from Maria but did from his affair with Luigia Polzelli. The child’s name was Alois Anton Nikolaus Polzelli. After three years in 1761 there was another position offered by Prince Anton, head of the Esterhazy family, and Haydn took it. Haydn’s new title was court musician or Vice Kapellmeister for the next three decades and this is what financially supported him.

Throughout his employment with the family Franz would take frequent trips back to Vienna. He felt very lonely and missed his friends. When he went back he would meet with Wolfgang Mozart. These two men became close friends, worked, and inspired each other. In 1790 the Prince died and his son was now the new Prince. Prince Anton didn’t like music as much as Prince Nikolaus so Anton let most of the court musicians go but not Haydn. With the new prince not liking music as much, Haydn didn’t have

Haydn could see the future potential in Beethoven so he asked him to come back to Vienna with him. Beethoven moved to Vienna with Haydn and started studying with him. Haydn went back to the Esterhazys family in 1795 and was back in his old position. Although Haydn took his old position back he only worked part time. Haydn was very well known all throughout Vienna when he wasn’t in the spotlight out in public making appearances he would be at home composing more music. Throughout Franz Joseph Haydn’s life he composed one hundred and four Symphonies, thirty one Piano Trios, sixty two Piano Sonatas, ninety+ String Quartets and many more others. He became a very wealthy man in his later years.

In 1803 Franz stopped composing music and it is said that there is a connection with the musical quotation "Gone is all my strength; I am old and weak." in one of his part songs. His health started to fail and he passed away. Haydn passed away in 1809 on May 31st in Vienna, Austria. He died very peacefully in the middle of the night at the old age of seventy seven. During the last years of his life Haydn was very well taken care of thanks to his many servants. Most musical geniuses do not get to see their musical talents flourish but thankfully Haydn