While a chorister, Haydn had not received any systematic training in music theory and composition. Haydn struggled at first, working at many different jobs: as a music teacher, as a street serenader, and eventually, in 1752, as valet–accompanist for the Italian composer Nicola Porpora, from whom he later said he learned “the true fundamentals of composition.” He was also briefly in Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Haugwitz’s employ, playing the organ in the Bohemian Chancellery chapel at the Judenplatz. Haydn immediately began his pursuit of a career as a freelance musician. Empress Maria Theresa herself complained to Reutter about his singing, calling it “crowing.” One day, Haydn carried out a prank, snipping off the pigtail of a fellow chorister. This was enough for Reutter: Haydn was first caned, then summarily dismissed and sent into the streets. He had the good fortune to be taken in by a friend, Johann Michael Spangler, who shared his family’s crowded garret room with Haydn for a few months. Struggles as a Freelancerīy 1749, Haydn had matured physically to the point that he was no longer able to sing high choral parts. As he later told his biographer Albert Christoph Dies, Haydn was motivated to sing very well, in hopes of gaining more invitations to perform before aristocratic audiences-where the singers were usually served refreshments. Like Frankh before him, Reutter did not always bother to make sure Haydn was properly fed. Stephen’s was one of the leading musical centres in Europe, Haydn learned a great deal simply by serving as a professional musician there. Haydn lived in the Kapellhaus next to the cathedral, along with Reutter, Reutter’s family, and the other four choirboys, which after 1745 included his younger brother Michael. The choirboys were instructed in Latin and other school subjects as well as voice, violin, and keyboard. Reutter was of little help to Haydn in the areas of music theory and composition, giving him only two lessons in his entire time as chorister. However, since St. In the foreground is the Kapellhaus (demolished 1804) where Haydn lived as a chorister. Haydn successfully auditioned with Reutter, and after several months of further training moved to Vienna (1740), where he worked for the next nine years as a chorister.įigure 1. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, who happened to be visiting Hainburg and was looking for new choirboys. There is reason to think that Haydn’s singing impressed those who heard him, because in 1739 he was brought to the attention of Georg von Reutter, the director of music in St. The people of Hainburg heard him sing treble parts in the church choir. Life in the Frankh household was not easy for Haydn, who later remembered being frequently hungry and humiliated by the filthy state of his clothing. He began his musical training there, and could soon play both harpsichord and violin. Haydn therefore went off with Frankh to Hainburg 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) away and never again lived with his parents. It was for this reason that they accepted a proposal from their relative Johann Matthias Frankh, the schoolmaster and choirmaster in Hainburg, that Haydn be apprenticed to Frankh in his home to train as a musician. Haydn’s parents had noticed that their son was musically gifted and knew that in Rohrau he would have no chance to obtain serious musical training. According to Haydn’s later reminiscences, his childhood family was extremely musical, and frequently sang together and with their neighbors. Neither parent could read music however, Mathias was an enthusiastic folk musician, who during the journeyman period of his career had taught himself to play the harp. Haydn’s mother Maria, née Koller, had previously worked as a cook in the palace of Count Harrach, the presiding aristocrat of Rohrau. His father was Mathias Haydn, a wheelwright who also served as “Marktrichter,” an office akin to village mayor. Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria, a village that at that time stood on the border with Hungary. He is known colloquially as “Papa Haydn”. His influence on younger composers such as Mozart and Beethoven was substantial. While Haydn is not well represented in our current listening playlist, his historical importance cannot be overstated.
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