Joseph Haydn

31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809

Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer of the Classical period, often called the 'Father of the Symphony' and the 'Father of the String Quartet' for his decisive role in shaping those forms. He spent most of his career as Kapellmeister to the wealthy Esterházy family, and his late London symphonies and oratorios The Creation and The Seasons crowned an immensely influential career; he was a friend of Mozart and a teacher of Beethoven.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Joseph Haydn.

Life events

Born in Rohrau, Austria
31 March 1732

Franz Joseph Haydn was born in the village of Rohrau, Lower Austria, the son of a wheelwright who was an enthusiastic amateur musician.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Became a chorister at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna
c. 1740 – 1749

Around age eight he was recruited to the choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, where he received his musical training until his voice broke.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Years as a freelance musician in Vienna
1749 – c. 1757

After his dismissal from the choir in 1749, he survived as a freelance teacher, performer, and accompanist while teaching himself composition, notably from the works of C.P.E. Bach.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Married Maria Anna Keller
26 November 1760

Haydn married Maria Anna Theresia Keller in Vienna; the marriage was unhappy and childless.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Entered the service of the Esterházy family
May 1761 – 1790

In 1761 he was appointed vice-Kapellmeister to Prince Paul Anton Esterházy, becoming full Kapellmeister in 1766 and serving the family for nearly three decades, mostly at the remote palace of Eszterháza.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Friendship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
c. 1784

From the mid-1780s Haydn and Mozart admired each other deeply and occasionally played chamber music together; Mozart dedicated a set of six string quartets to Haydn.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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First London journey and the London symphonies
1791 – 1795

Invited by impresario Johann Peter Salomon, Haydn made two triumphant visits to London (1791-92 and 1794-95), composing his twelve London symphonies and receiving an honorary doctorate from Oxford.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Began teaching the young Ludwig van Beethoven
1792

On returning from London he took on Beethoven as a composition student in Vienna from late 1792.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of the oratorio The Creation
30 April 1798

His oratorio Die Schöpfung was first performed privately in Vienna in 1798 and publicly in 1799, becoming one of the most celebrated works of the age; The Seasons followed in 1801.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died in Vienna
31 May 1809

Haydn died in Vienna shortly after Napoleon's army bombarded and occupied the city; a memorial service featured Mozart's Requiem.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓