Classical 8: Haydn’s String Quartets – Pt. 1

 (A) Introduction

Haydn was a productive guy.  Not only did he father the symphony, but he also sired the string quartet.  Indeed, he’s known as the father of the string quartet just as much as he’s known as the father of the symphony.

 

A string quartet is, as you may suspect, a musical ensemble of four string instruments.  Works written for these guys are also usually called string quartets.  So, the term “string quartet” applies equally to the piece of music and to the guys playing it.  How postmodern.

Classical 7: Haydn’s Symphonies – Pt. 2

(A) Introduction

Haydn spent about three decades in the service of the Esterházy family.  But he didn’t only write for his patron.  His popularity steadily increased throughout his career, and he got several commissions from outside the court.  One of the more notable of these were the Paris symphonies.  Parisians were big fans of Haydn, and performances of his works there were big hits.

 

In 1790 Prince Nikolaus died, and his successor had no interest in music.  He dismissed the orchestra and sent Haydn off with a pension.  Suddenly Haydn was free to wander around and do whatever he wanted, with a steady income from his pension.  Sweet!  Haydn went to London to write and conduct.

Classical 6: Haydn’s Symphonies – Pt. 1

(A) Introduction

I think I’ll have to listen to more traditional symphonies in order to understand the difference in Beethoven.  I don’t have to look very hard before I land on Joseph Haydn, considered to be the “father of the classical symphony” – and Beethoven’s mentor at one point.  So I’m traveling further back in time now to the late 18^th century.

 

The symphony was already a fairly well-established format by the time Haydn began writing.  But Haydn’s symphonies are the earliest to nail down the music into a “standard” format.

 

(B) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

The Internet says that Haydn is one of the most prominent composers of the Classical period.  In fact, the guy wrote 104 symphonies.  104!  And that’s not even counting all the string quartets, concertos, masses operas, and so on and so on…