Haydn (1732-1809)

How I love, love, LOVE Haydn. His music is so expressive, not just sturm und drung, oh no, it is STURM und DRUNG. I do not just feel it, I see it.

I never really enjoyed his music before… I heard his name plenty of times, of course, and I am sure I heard his compositions on many occasions. I just never linked the name to the music.

What makes him even more amazing is his story–the narrative of the self-made man. The gem-in-the-dirt discovered talent–hats off for his parents who recognized his gifts and made the decision to part with him to develop his talent! The Bachs were born into life of music, even J.C., though never had a chance to be properly cuddled by his father, had his trail blazed. Haydn did not. He literally sang his heart out for food when he was young… I am not sure how much I would be able to produce on a hungry belly, but he kept impressing all the right people, and moved up to become Europe’s leading composer by the end of the century. Yet, he remained a simple man, modest, easy going, loyal to his patron, Prince Nicolaus. His orchestra musicians loved him, as did his students and other composers he mentored; though used to living in the remote Esterháza, I am amazed at how easily London surrendered itself to Haydn.

An interesting historic detail from this era–the establishment of public music concerts (https://www.britannica.com/art/concert)