Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer who was one of the most important figures in the development of the Classical style in music during the 18th century. He helped establish the forms and styles for the string quartet and the symphony.

Haydn was an extremely prolific composer, and some of his most well-known works include the London Symphonies, The Creation, Trumpet Concerto, and Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major. His compositions are often characterized as light, witty, and elegant.

Haydn was the second son of humble parents: his father was a wheelwright, and his mother, before her marriage, was a cook. His younger brother, Michael, also became a composer and was highly regarded for his church music. Haydn married Maria Anna Keller in 1760, but the couple had no children.

When Haydn was a child, he received a basic music education from his cousin. He later served as a chorister for St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, where he gained practical music skills but little instruction in theory. After being expelled when his voice changed, Haydn largely taught himself through the study of musical works.

Haydn died peacefully in his home in Vienna in 1809 at the age of 77.