A happy, cheerful man, a lover of practical jokes, soaked with topnotch humor, Joseph Haydn offered much more than just a poetic talent of composition and musicality. Joseph’s early life of poverty made him skilled in business deals and quite the shark of negotiations. He was short and said to not be the most attractive of men. Due to deep scars incurred from smallpox as a child, the wounds followed him well into old age. And yet, despite his insecurity over his personal appearance, woman admired him and sought out his attention quite notably.
Joseph Haydn was born in Austria during 1732, within a village near Hungary. His father a craftsman and mother a cook, his early life wasn’t filled wealth and warm walls. Despite Joseph’s father being unable to read music, he was quite the folk musician and taught himself how to play the harp. The family often sang together and joined in pleasurable, melodious gatherings with neighbors.
His parents noticed early on that Joseph was naturally gifted musically. When Joseph was 6, a relative offered to take Joseph into a school that he was schoolmaster and choirmaster of. Off Joseph went to live with his relative and train as a musician, never again living in the warm home of his loving parents. Sadly, despite being taken in by extended family, he was often torturously hungry and embarrassed to walk amongst his friends due to his very filthy clothes. Despite the unpleasant conditions, he quickly learned to play the violin and harpsichord, also singing in the choir.
Josephs proficient singing was noticed and he was asked to audition by Georg von Reutter, a director of music in St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna. After training for several months, he moved there and worked for 9 years as a chorister. Joseph lived next to the cathedral with Reutter’s family and 4 other choirboys, which later also included his younger brother Michael. Sadly, Reutter never even taught Joseph music theory and composition, only skimming the surface in 2 brief lessons. Despite the more “fancy” surroundings, Joseph found himself once again, not being fed very often and complained of always being hungry. Thankfully, the more invitations he received to perform before aristocratic audiences, the more refreshments he would receive. Thank the lord he was talented! Poor kid.
At 17 years old, his high choral tones were no longer. Joseph was known for pranks during his late teen years and one day, he decided to cut the pigtail off a fellow chorister. Hey, why not? Those tails are NOT attractive, am I right? Reutter wasn’t having it and had him beat with a cane, then sent poor Joseph to the streets. Alas, a friend took him in, and this is where his career as a freelance musician took off!
Despite his talent, it wasn’t an easy feat. He worked various jobs as a music teacher, street serenader and then, finally (SCORE), as valet-accompanist for an Italian composer (Nicola Porpora). He was taught composition and enjoyed playing the organ in the Bohemian Chancellery chapel. Joseph’s skills continued to increase, and he was gaining public recognition. He composed an opera, Der krumme Teufel, “The Limping Devil”. He then began to notice some of the pieces he had given away were being published and sold in musical shops. Well, geez, that’s a sign to publish your pieces if I ever heard one.
Joseph went to balls as a supplementary musician and was taking on loads of freelance work. In 1756, Baron Carl Josef Furnberg took Joseph on as an official employee, where Joseph composed his first string of quartets. “They abound in novel effects and instrumental combinations that can only be the result of humorous intent”…based on this feedback from Philip G. Downs, Joseph felt compelled to write more…and more…and more. He was now in demand as a teacher and performer. Ah, I love success stories. Hopefully this doesn’t take a dark turn.
In 1760, Joseph married Maria Anna and they were utterable, completely, miserable! Divorce was not an option and the pair stayed with each other despite the unhappiness felt on both sides, resulting in both parties taking up sexual companions on the side. Joseph took a music director position, then moving to full Kapellmeister. He was a busy man, managing the orchestra, compositions, playing chamber music for and with his clients, then moving to operatic productions. He was busy and drained often, but knew this was an amazing opportunity! Joseph was given access to his own orchestra at Esterhazy court per Prince Nikolaus’s proposition, creating ample occasions for him enhance his musical style.
Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy was providing him many opportunities, but this also meant Joseph was in some respects, at his every command. All of Joseph’s compositions were the Esterhazy’s property due to the contract in place, leaving him rather stuck. Joseph was commanded to provide music for the prince to play, as Prince Nikolaus was obsessive about learning how to play the baryton. Over the next 10 years, Joseph produced over 200 pieces for this instrument. Alas, after all this work, the prince became bored and gave up the instrument, moving on to opera productions. Joseph moved into the role of company director, training singers, and preparing performances.
Finally in 1779, his contract was renegotiated, and he was able to write and sell his work to publishers. Make it rain, Joseph, make it rain! Joseph was indeed making substantial income but missed his friends in Vienna greatly. One of which was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The two would occasionally play in string quartets together and earned immense admiration of each other. In 1790, Prince Nikolas passed away and his son Anton allowed Joseph to travel. This led to Joseph being offered a lucrative offer from a German violinist and impresario in England. Joseph would conduct new symphonies with an enormous orchestra! The choice was a no brainer for Joseph. People of England loved him already and knew his work. Off Joseph went to gain even more success!
At 58 years old, Joseph crossed the English Channel on New Year’s Day. This was the first time Joseph ever saw the sea. I can only imagine what a touching experience that was for him! Something easily taken for granted by most of us, I’m sure! People were flocking to see his concerts, bringing Joseph sufficient financial surety. Charles Burney (an English music historian, composer and musician) reviewed the first concert saying, “Haydn himself presided at the piano-forte; and the sight of that renowned composer so electrified the audience, as to excite an attention and a pleasure superior to any that had ever been caused by instrumental music in England.” Side note, I am personally a big fan of Capriccio in G Major, Piano Sonata Hob. and Surprise Symphony, which has a funny story behind it…Apparently, the sudden beat of the timpani was intended to arouse any members of the audience who had fallen asleep or become drowsy. If you take the time to listen to it, you’ll quickly understand why. The prankster returns!
Joseph had some time to travel after this theatrical and opera-soaked period of his life. He spent time in Hertingfordbury, a small village in England, occasionally making his way to Oxford where he was awarded an honorary doctrate. During his travels, Joseph met Beethoven and obviously the two rapidly found a common bond. Beethoven became Joseph’s pupil and was taught counterpoint (which basically means 2 or more lines that are in harmony yet have different rhythms).England was some of the happiest times of Josephs life and opened a world of possibilities he never fathomed.
In 1795, Joseph returned to Vienna and he took up the position as Kapellmeister part-time. He spent most of his time at home, in a large house in the suburb of Windmuhle and continued to write various works. His health started to fluctuate due to old age, and completing pieces became a struggle. By 1803 he was physically unable to compose, as he was suffering from weakness, dizziness, inability to concentrate and agonizingly swollen legs. His biographer quoted him saying, “I must have something to do—usually musical ideas are pursuing me, to the point of torture, I cannot escape them, they stand like walls before me. If it’s an allegro that pursues me, my pulse keeps beating faster, I can get no sleep. If it’s an adagio, then I notice my pulse beating slowly. My imagination plays on me as if I were a clavier.” Haydn smiled, the blood rushed to his face, and he said “I am really just a living clavier”.
Hayden was tenderly taken care of by his servants, receiving an ongoing line of visitors. During this portion of his life, he would have bouts of motivation to connect his soul through his fingertips and would find himself playing his “Emperor’s Hymn” to comfort himself. March 27th ,1808 a performance was organized as a tribute to him, and the weary and weak composer was carried out on an armchair into the hall, with trumpets, drums and Beethoven to greet him. Joseph was deeply moved and the emotional sentiments tapped out the remaining energy he had left, forcing him to leave the concert during intermission.
On May 26th 1809, Joseph played his favorite “Emperor’s Hymn” with rare passion, only to shortly after collapse. He passed away a few days later on May 31st at age 77. It’s evident this man had his struggles in life but the determination, creativity and depth outweighed any burdens that may have weighed him down. The time he spent as a music director isolated him from many of his peers, leaving him lonely, yes, but also offering him opportunities to think for himself and not being influenced by other musicians. His works are unique and untainted by outside influences. His music was refreshing, new, and very, very inspiring during this period (and still). Does anyone else seem to always cry when they hear the sound of a piano being beautifully played? Does it ever so gently pull your heart towards your soul in a poetic dance of emotional sincerity? Just me?
References:
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/haydn-facts/
Header quote credit, Joseph Haydn