Haydn Notes

Haydn wrote a number of short simple songs ( Canzonetta’s ) During his stay in England in 1791, he
wrote these songs for the middle classes, as at that time playing the piano and singing was the main
form of entertainment and was a social achievement, due to this fact, the music shows certain signs
of being written for an amateur performer, e.g. At points the vocal line is mirrored by the piano, the
vocal range required is only 1 octave, and it wasn’t too “ arty “ as it was meant for entertaining.

Haydn first acquired a job work for the wealthy Esterhazy family in Vienna, which is how most
other composers of the time started off, as he worked there he had a small orchestra at his disposal,
and was thus able to write his beautiful, Symphonies of which he wrote over 106.

Joseph Haydn was born on the 31st of march, and due to the fact that his father was an amateur harp
player, he was encouraged to take part in family concerts from a very young age, from he gets a
place at the St Stephen’s choir in Vienna , where as his voice broke he was dismissed, following this
he went to try to earn a living teaching, a few years later he moves on to become musical director
for a private orchestra, whilst being the musical director he attended gathering for the aristocracy,
which is probably where the met the Esterhazy’s shortly after this he moved to Eisenstadt where he
finally began his employment at the Esterhazy palace.