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Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn: The Architect of Classical Music

Introduction to Franz Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) was an Austrian composer whose innovations shaped Classical music, earning him the titles "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet." His contributions to orchestral, chamber, and choral music laid the foundation for composers like Mozart and Beethoven. Known for his wit, originality, and masterful use of form, Haydn was one of the most celebrated musicians of his time, influencing generations of composers.

Haydn’s Greatest Contributions

The Symphony and Orchestral Works

Haydn’s impact on symphonic writing remains unparalleled:

  • 104 Symphonies – Haydn refined and expanded the symphony into a sophisticated and expressive form.
  • Symphony No. 94 "Surprise" (1791) – Famous for its sudden, dramatic fortissimo chord.
  • Symphony No. 101 "The Clock" (1793–94) – Named for its steady, ticking rhythm in the second movement.
  • Symphony No. 104 "London" (1795) – A grand and triumphant work from his London period.

The Father of the String Quartet

Haydn’s string quartets set new standards for chamber music composition:

  • 68 String Quartets – Including the "Emperor" Quartet (Op. 76, No. 3), featuring the melody later used in the German national anthem.
  • The "Sun" Quartets (Op. 20, 1772) – Marked a turning point in the history of the string quartet.

Choral and Sacred Masterpieces

Haydn’s vocal works display both grandeur and spiritual depth:

  • The Creation (1798) – A magnificent oratorio depicting the Biblical creation story.
  • The Seasons (1801) – A vibrant oratorio celebrating nature’s changing cycles.
  • Harmoniemesse (1802) – One of his most majestic masses.

Piano and Other Chamber Works

Haydn’s keyboard and chamber compositions are full of charm and inventiveness:

  • Piano Trios – Helped establish the piano trio as a major genre in chamber music.
  • Piano Sonatas – Influential works showcasing elegance and structural clarity.

Haydn’s Enduring Legacy

Haydn’s friendship with Mozart and mentorship of Beethoven highlight his pivotal role in classical music history. His works remain essential to concert halls and music education, admired for their brilliance, innovation, and humor.

Joseph Haydn

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  • Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 1, 3, 6 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8886 Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 1, 3, 6 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8886
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    Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 1, 3, 6 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8886 UPC 822186088869   The Quatuor Mosaïques is an Austrian string quartet, founded in 1987 by Erich Höbarth, Andrea Bischof, Anita...
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  • Haydn - String Quartets Opus 77 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2000 / E 8800 Haydn - String Quartets Opus 77 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2000 / E 8800
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    Haydn - String Quartets Opus 77 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2000 / E 8800

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    Haydn - String Quartets Opus 77 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2000 / E 8800 UPC 3298490088005   The Quatuor Mosaïques is an Austrian string quartet, founded in 1987 by Erich Höbarth, Andrea Bischof, Anita Mitterer, and...
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  • Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 2, 4, 5 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8875 Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 2, 4, 5 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8875
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    Haydn - String Quartets Opus 64 No. 2, 4, 5 - Quatuor Mosaïques / Naïve Audio CD 2004 / E 8875 UPC 822186088753   The Quatuor Mosaïques is an Austrian string quartet, founded in 1987 by Erich Höbarth, Andrea Bischof, Anita...
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  • Joseph Haydn - "Lobkowitz Quartets" Op. 77 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 11776 Joseph Haydn - "Lobkowitz Quartets" Op. 77 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 11776
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    Joseph Haydn - "Lobkowitz Quartets" Op. 77 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 11776

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    Joseph Haydn - "Lobkowitz Quartets" Op. 77 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 11776 UPC 5991811177621    !!! Condition of this CD is USED VERY GOOD !!!   Franz Joseph Haydn (/ˈhaɪdən/; German:...
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  • Joseph Haydn - "Apponyi" Quartets Op.71 & 74 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 12246-47 Joseph Haydn - "Apponyi" Quartets Op.71 & 74 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 12246-47
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    Joseph Haydn - "Apponyi" Quartets Op.71 & 74 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 12246-47

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    Joseph Haydn - "Apponyi" Quartets Op.71 & 74 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1994 Stereo / HCD 12246-47 UPC 5991811224622   Franz Joseph Haydn (/ˈhaɪdən/; German: [ˈfʁants ˈjoːzɛf ˈhaɪdn̩]; 31 March 1732 –...
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  • Joseph Haydn - "Sun Quartets" Op. 20 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1995 Stereo / HCD 11332-33 Joseph Haydn - "Sun Quartets" Op. 20 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1995 Stereo / HCD 11332-33
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    Joseph Haydn - "Sun Quartets" Op. 20 - Tátrai Quartet / Hungaroton Classic 2x Audio CD 1995 Stereo / HCD 11332-33 UPC 5991811133221   Franz Joseph Haydn (/ˈhaɪdən/; German: [ˈfʁants ˈjoːzɛf ˈhaɪdn̩]; 31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809)...
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  • Simon Rattle - Haydn - Symphonies Nos. 86, 102 & 22 'The Philosopher' / City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Great Artists Of The Century / EMI Classics Audio CD 2004 / 724356297524 Simon Rattle - Haydn - Symphonies Nos. 86, 102 & 22 'The Philosopher' / City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Great Artists Of The Century / EMI Classics Audio CD 2004 / 724356297524
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    Simon Rattle - Haydn - Symphonies Nos. 86, 102 & 22 'The Philosopher' / City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Great Artists Of The Century / EMI Classics Audio CD 2004 / 724356297524

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    Simon Rattle - Haydn - Symphonies Nos. 86, 102 & 22 'The Philosopher' / City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Great Artists Of The Century / EMI Classics Audio CD 2004  UPC 724356297524 !!! Condition of CD is USED - VERY GOOD...
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  • Haydn - Harnoncourt - Symphony No. 98 & 99 / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt / TELDEC Audio CD 1992 Stereo / 2292-46331-2 Haydn - Harnoncourt - Symphony No. 98 & 99 / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt / TELDEC Audio CD 1992 Stereo / 2292-46331-2
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    Haydn - Harnoncourt - Symphony No. 98 & 99 / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt / TELDEC Audio CD 1992 Stereo / 2292-46331-2

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    Haydn - Harnoncourt - Symphony No. 98 & 99 / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt / TELDEC Audio CD 1992 Stereo / 2292-46331-2 UPC 022924633126   Label: TELDEC – 2292-46331-2 Format: CD Country:...
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  • Joseph Haydn - Harmoniemesse - János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio CD 1982 Stereo / HCD 12360-2 Joseph Haydn - Harmoniemesse - János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio CD 1982 Stereo / HCD 12360-2
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    Joseph Haydn - Harmoniemesse - János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio CD 1982 Stereo / HCD 12360-2

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    Joseph Haydn - Harmoniemesse - János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Audio CD 1982 Stereo HCD 12360-2   ASIN B000027CCJ   János Ferencsik (* 18. Januar 1907 in Budapest; † 12. Juni 1984 ebenda) war ein ungarischer Dirigent...
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  • Haydn - Symphonies - Mercury, The Bear, The Surprise / Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, Vilmos Tátrai, Hungarian State Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Echo Collection / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1999 Stereo / HRC 1024 Haydn - Symphonies - Mercury, The Bear, The Surprise / Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, Vilmos Tátrai, Hungarian State Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Echo Collection / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1999 Stereo / HRC 1024
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    Haydn - Symphonies - Mercury, The Bear, The Surprise / Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, Vilmos Tátrai, Hungarian State Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Echo Collection / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1999 Stereo / HRC 1024

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    Haydn - Symphonies - Mercury, The Bear, The Surprise / Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, Vilmos Tátrai, Hungarian State Orchestra, János Ferencsik / Hungaroton Echo Collection / Hungaroton Classic Audio CD 1999 Stereo / HRC 1024 UPC...
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  • Joseph Haydn - Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze / Hamburg Soloists, Emil Klein (conductor) / Arte Nova Classics Audio CD 1996 / 74321 34021 2 Joseph Haydn - Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze / Hamburg Soloists, Emil Klein (conductor) / Arte Nova Classics Audio CD 1996 / 74321 34021 2
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    Joseph Haydn - Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze / Hamburg Soloists, Emil Klein (conductor) / Arte Nova Classics Audio CD 1996 / 74321 34021 2

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    Joseph Haydn - Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlosers am Kreuze / Hamburg Soloists, Emil Klein (conductor) / Arte Nova Classics Audio CD 1996 / 74321 34021 2 UPC 743213402123       Label: Arte Nova Classics – 74321 34021...
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