Haydn

Joseph Haydn (born Franz Joseph Haydn; 31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. Born in Rohrau, he sang in Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral choir as a boy before pursuing a career as a freelance musician. In 1761 he entered the service of the Esterházy family, remaining Kapellmeister for about three decades. There he wrote symphonies, string quartets, masses, operas, and other works, developing forms and styles central to the era.

From 1791 to 1795, Haydn made two extended visits to London, where his music found a new audience and he produced the London Symphonies (Nos. 93–104). These works helped secure his international reputation and influenced later composers. He is commonly regarded as the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet" for his creative impact on these genres. His music is noted for formal clarity, inventive melodic ideas, and a sense of humor in movement structures and contrasts.

Major works include The Creation (Die Schöpfung, 1798) and The Seasons (Die Jahreszeiten, 1801), as well as a vast output of symphonies (about 104), string quartets (68), masses, and concertos. By refining sonata form and developing thematic transformation and instrument writing, Haydn helped define the Classical style and influenced contemporaries such as Mozart and Beethoven. His music remains central to the classical repertoire, celebrated for craftsmanship and accessible expressive language.