The creative biography of the outstanding Austrian composer Joseph Haydn stretched for almost half a century and covered absolutely all the stages of the development of the Vienna classical school of music - from the beginning of its formation in the 1760s. and to the heyday of Beethoven's work at the beginning of the XIX century.
The Austrian composer is not in vain called the father of the symphony. It was thanks to Haydn's contribution that this genre finally gained classical perfection and became the base on which the great Beethoven symphony was nurtured.
In addition, Haydn was the first to write completed samples of other popular genres of the era of classicism - the string quartet and clavier sonata. It was also he who first created secular oratorios in German.
Incredible fruitfulness, wide imagination, inexhaustible freshness of perception, a harmonious sense of being - these are the main signs of the creative heritage of the famous master.
We present you the 10 most famous musical works of Joseph Haydn.
10. Opera "Pharmacist"
“Pharmacist” - comic opera in one action. The libretto for this vocal piece of music was written by Carlo Goldoni.
The opera premiered in 1768 in the castle of Prince Esterhazy. By the way, according to the author himself, the creation of the Pharmacist was timed to coincide with the opening of the Esterhaz palace theater.
In the 19-20 century, the opera was very popular and successfully went on to the most famous scenes of the world: in Vienna, Dresden, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London, etc.
9. Symphony No. 82 - “The Bear”
Haydn composed a symphony for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, strings, percussion (timpani), brass and general bass. The background is an extended sound of a bourdon, and a fun, energetic theme is already superimposed.
The title of this work "Bear" due to the fact that at that time gypsies drove the bears to such melodies.
8. Symphony No. 45 - “Farewell Symphony”
At the turn of the 60s and 70s, Haydn's work clearly showed a change in style. Pathetic symphonies begin to appear, written primarily in minor. They represent a completely new style of the Austrian master, who combined his quest for vivid expressiveness with the then popular German literary movement "Storms and Onslaught".
Symphony No. 45 often call “Farewell”, and there are several theories for the emergence of such a name.
One, based on the words of the author himself, is preserved in the memoirs of his contemporaries. While working on this work, Haydn served in the chapel of Prince Esterházy, one of the Hungarian nobles, whose power and wealth exceeded the royal.
In 1772, Prince Esterhazy ordered that during his stay at the estate of a family of musicians the chapels could not live there. Only in the absence of the prince did the musicians have the opportunity to leave the residence and meet with their wives and children.
In that year, the prince spent quite some time on the estate, and the musicians, exhausted by their separation from their families, turned to their leader for help. Haydn very witty approached the solution to this problem and managed to convey the request of the orchestra during the performance of the new symphony.
According to another version, the request concerned a salary that the prince delayed, and the title hinted that the musicians were going to leave the place of service.
7. Creation of the world
Haydn worked on this legendary oratorio for about two years. According to the author’s own recollections, he never in her life emanated such piety as during creation “Creations“.
Every day, the composer prayed to God for the gift of spiritual strength and talent to complete his work. The scale of the plan corresponded not only to the length of the writing, but also to the list of musical instruments included in the performing composition: 3 trombones, 3 flutes and counter bassoon - for the time in which Haydn lived, this composition is more than decent.
That piety that accompanies the author while working on a work is fully embodied in the completed version of the oratorio in a special way. "Creation of the world" is literally permeated with delight and reverent worship of the beauty of the world, the joy of being.
6. Symphony No. 94 - “Surprise”
This work is included in the six so-called London Symphonies (Nos. 93–98). They are the very embodiment of the most striking features of Haydn's late style.
A scene of a simple people gushing over the edge of fun, saturation with dance melodies and humorous “strokes”, variations on themes of authentic folk motifs.
On the court of viewers 94th symphony "Surprise" was presented March 23, 1792 in London at a concert of Salomon. Haydn himself conducted. The premiere was a resounding success.
5. Orpheus and Eurydice
Haydn's Opera “Orpheus and Eurydice”, written in 1791, consists of 4 actions. The authorship of the libretto to the work belongs to C. Badini.
This opera of the Austrian master, intended to be performed in the English capital, remained incomplete. Also, some secret is the meaning of its name. Some experts say that the philosopher personifies Orpheus, and his soul is Eurydice.
Unfortunately, the opera has been forgotten for over 150 years. And only 1951 in Florence was it performed. By the way, the great Maria Callas took part in the production. Since then, the work has since been a huge success among opera lovers.
4. The moon world
The work was written for the court theater of Prince Esterhazy, in the service of which Haydn was then.
“The moon world” created on the libretto of the famous Italian comedian Carlo Goldoni. Its plot is based on one of the most famous hoaxes of the New Age - the discovery of the Moon World.
This comedic story tells how a pseudo-astrologer played on Earth the reality of the inhabitants of the moon under the leadership of the lunar emperor.
3. Seasons
None of the other musical compositions of the great master brought him success so deafening and sensational as his two oratorios, written at the very end of his life's journey.
It's about “Creation of the World” and “Seasons”. It was these works that made it possible for the illustrious composer to reveal his many-sided philosophical ideas about the meaning of human life and the most important values of life.
The theme of changing seasons and generally cyclical changes in nature in classical music has been used more than once. However, Haydn for the first time connected it with the life of the people and made it close and understandable.
A similar concept is similar to the theory of the great French enlightener J.-J. Rousseau, which cultivates the existence of a person living in harmony with the world around him.
The oratorio contains the characteristics of Haydn's characteristic musical style: simplicity and clarity of melody; the use of themes similar to everyday ones, a variety of numbers - the work has choirs, recitative, aria, cavatine, song, duet, tercet, tercet with choir and so on. 44 numbers are “divided” into four parts, each of which has the name of the time of year.
2. Oxford Symphony
Symphony No. 92 Haydn, who later received the name “Oxford,” was in reality written for residents of the French capital.
According to many experts, this work with a long slow part and excellent musical research is one of the best creations of the master.
The symphony was named Oxford due to the fact that Haydn first held it in 1791 at the ceremony of conferring an honorary doctorate on him at the famous Oxford University. This happened quite quickly after his first arrival in the UK, and since the composer had not yet completed work on the twelve “London” symphonies, he eventually decided to present a new of his completed symphonies in gratitude for the honor he received.
1. Piano Sonata in D Major
“Sonata for Piano in D Major” was written in the years 1779-1780. It is known that at the time of its creation, the symphony was a dedication to the von Auenbrugger sisters.
The sonata contains 3 parts. The first and final are fast, effective, solemn. The second part is measured, deeply concentrated and even sad.
The leading batch of the first part is lively and energetic. Due to the melody easy to perceive and the high register, it sounds softly and gracefully.