"FATHER" OF THE SYMPHONY JOSEPH HAYDN

"FATHER" OF THE SYMPHONY JOSEPH HAYDN

This composer created with the hope that his works would help people become at least a little happier and serve as a source of vigor and inspiration. With these thoughts, he set about his favorite pastime.

Joseph Haydn became the "father" of the symphony, the pioneer of other musical genres, he was the first to write secular oratorios in German, and his masses became the pinnacle of the Viennese classical school.

Carriage maker's son

Joseph Haydn was awarded many honorary titles, became a member of music academies and societies, and the fame that came to him was well-deserved.

No one could have imagined that the son of a carriage master from Austria would achieve such honors. Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in the small Austrian village of Rorau.

His father had no musical education, but he independently mastered playing the harp, the not indifferent composer Joseph Haydn was also the mother of the future composer. From early childhood, parents discovered that Josef had good vocal abilities and hearing.

Already at the age of five, he loudly sang along with his father, and then learned to play the violin and clavier and came to the church choir to perform masses.

The far-sighted father sent the young Josef to a neighboring town to his relative Johann Matthias Frank, the rector of the school. He taught children not only grammar and mathematics, but also gave them singing and violin lessons.

There, Haydn mastered string and wind instruments and learned to play the timpani, retaining gratitude to his teacher for life.

Diligence, perseverance and natural beautiful treble made young Josef famous in the city. One day, the Viennese composer Georg von Reuter came there to select underage singers for his chapel.

Joseph Haydn impressed him and at the age of 8 got into the choir of the largest cathedral in Vienna. For eight years, young Haydn mastered the art of singing, the subtleties of composition, and even tried to compose spiritual works for several voices.

heavy bread

The most difficult period for Haydn began in 1749, when he had to earn a living by taking lessons, singing in various church choirs, and accompanying
singers and play in ensembles.

composer Joseph Haydn

At the same time, the young man never lost heart and did not lose his desire to comprehend everything new. He took lessons from the composer Nicolo Porpora, and paid him by accompanying his young students.

Haydn studied books on composition and analyzed clavier sonatas, until late at night he diligently composed music of various genres. And in 1951, in one of the suburban theaters in Vienna, Haydn's singspiel called "The Lame Demon" was staged.

In 1755 he produced his first string quartet, and four years later his first symphony. These genres will become the most important in all the composer's work in the future.

The Strange Union of Joseph Haydn

The fame acquired in Vienna helped the young musician get a job with Count Morzin. It was for his chapel that Joseph Haydn wrote his first five symphonies.

By the way, in less than two years of work with Mortsin, the composer managed to tie the knot.

28-year-old Josef had tender feelings for the youngest daughter of the court hairdresser, and she, unexpectedly for everyone, went to the monastery.

Then Haydn, either in retaliation or for some other reason, married her sister Maria Keller, who was 4 years older than Joseph. Their family union did not become happy.

The composer's wife was grumpy and wasteful, she did not appreciate her husband's talent at all, she folded his manuscripts into papillottes or used them instead of baking paper.

But, surprisingly, their family life in the absence of love, desired children and home comfort lasted about 40 years.

In the service of the prince

The turning point in the creative life of Joseph Haydn was 1761, when he signed a working contract with Prince Paul Esterhazy. For a long 30 years, the composer served as court bandmaster of an aristocratic family.

The prince and his relatives lived in Vienna only in winter, and spent the rest of the time at his residence in the town of Eisenstadt or at the estate in Esterhazy. Therefore, Joseph had to leave the capital for 6 years.

composer Franz Haydn

When Prince Paul died, his brother Nikolaus expanded the chapel to 16 people. There were two theaters in the family estate: one was intended for the performance of operas and dramas, and the second for puppet shows.

Of course, Haydn's position was highly dependent, but for that time it was considered quite natural. The composer valued his now comfortable life and always remembered his youthful years of need. Sometimes he was seized by spleen and a desire to throw off these fetters.

Under the contract, Joseph Haydn was obliged to compose those works that the prince wished. The composer had no right to show them to anyone, make copies or write for someone else. He had to be with Esterhazy all the time. Because of this, Joseph Haydn never managed to visit the birthplace of classical music in Italy.

But there was another side to this life. Haydn did not experience material and domestic difficulties, so he could safely engage in creativity. The entire orchestra was at his full disposal, thanks to which the composer had a great opportunity to experiment and perform his compositions at almost any time.

Late love

Joseph Haydn devoted four decades to the symphony. He wrote more than a hundred works in this genre. In the theater of Prince Esterhazy, he staged 90 operas. And in the Italian troupe of this theater, the composer also found late love.

The young Neapolitan singer Luigia Polcelli enchanted Haydn. Passionately in love, Josef achieved an extension of the contract with her, especially for her simplified the vocal parts, perfectly understanding her capabilities.

But Luigia did not bring him real happiness - she was too selfish. Therefore, even after the death of his wife, Haydn prudently did not marry her, and even in the last version of the will he halved the amount allotted to her initially, noting that there were more needy people.

Glory and male friendship

Finally, the time came when the glory of Joseph Haydn went beyond the borders of his native Austria. By order of the concert society of Paris, he wrote six symphonies, then received orders from the capital of Spain.

His works began to be published in Naples and London, and competing entrepreneurs Foggy composer Joseph Haydn-Albion invited him on tour. The most surprising event was the performance of two symphonies by Joseph Haydn in New York.

At the same time, the life of the great composer was illuminated by friendship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It should be noted that their relationship was never overshadowed by the slightest rivalry or envy.

Mozart claimed that it was from Joseph that he first learned how to create string quartets, so he dedicated several works to "Papa Haydn". Josef himself considered Wolfgang Amadeus the greatest contemporary composer.

Pan-European triumph

After 50 years, the habitual way of life of Joseph Haydn has changed dramatically. He received freedom, although he continued to be listed with the heirs of Prince Esterhazy as a court bandmaster.

The chapel itself was dissolved by the descendants of the prince, and the composer left for Vienna. In 1791 he was invited on tour to England. The terms of the contract included the creation of six symphonies and their performance in London, as well as the writing of an opera and twenty other works.

Haydn was given one of the best orchestras at his disposal, in which 40 musicians worked. A year and a half spent in London became triumphant for Joseph.

composer Joseph Haydn

The second English tour was no less successful and turned out to be the pinnacle of creativity for him. During these two trips to England, the composer composed almost 280 works and became a doctor of music at Oxford University, the oldest educational institution in England.

The king even offered the composer to stay in London, but he refused and returned to his native Austria.

By that time, the first lifetime monument was erected to him in his homeland near the village of Rorau, and in the capital an evening was organized at which Haydn's new symphonies and a piano concerto performed by the maestro's student Beethoven were performed.

They first met in Bonn when Haydn was on his way to London. At first, the classes were tense, but Wolfgang always treated the elderly composer with the greatest respect, and then dedicated piano sonatas to him.

In recent years, Joseph Haydn became interested in choral music. This interest arose after attending a grandiose festival in honor of George Frideric Handel, organized in Westminster Cathedral.

Haydn then created several masses, as well as the oratorios The Seasons and The Creation of the World. The performance of the latter at the University of Vienna marked the composer's 76th birthday.

musical protest

At the beginning of 1809, the maestro's health deteriorated completely, he became almost an invalid. The last days of his life were also troubled. Vienna was captured by Napoleon's troops, a shell fell near Haydn's house and the sick composer had to calm the servants.

composer Joseph Haydn

After the capitulation of the city, Napoleon gave the order to place a sentry near Haydn's house so that no one would disturb the dying. There is still a legend in Vienna that the weakened composer played the Austrian anthem almost every day in protest against the French invaders.

Joseph Haydn died on May 31 of the same year. A few years later, the descendants of Prince Esterhazy decided to rebury the maestro in the church of the city of Eisenstadt. When the coffin was opened, no skull was found under the preserved wig.

It turned out that Haydn's friends secretly seized him before burial. Until 1954, the skull was in the museum of the Vienna Society of Music Lovers and only in the middle of the 20th century was it connected with the remains.

DATA

The musicians of the Prince Esterhazy Chapel often remained separated from their families for long periods of time.

Once they turned to Haydn to tell the prince about their desire to see their relatives. The maestro figured out how to do it. The guests came to listen to his new symphony.

Candles were lit on the music stands and notes were opened. After the first sounds, the horn player played part of his part, put down the instrument, put out the candle and left.

One by one, all the musicians did this. The guests just looked at each other in disbelief.

The moment came when the last sound ceased, and all the lights went out.

The prince understood Haydn's original hint and gave the musicians an opportunity to take a break from the uninterrupted service.

For most of his life, Joseph Haydn suffered from nasal polyps. One day, his surgeon friend offered to remove them and save the composer from suffering.

At first, he agreed, went into the operating room, saw several healthy orderlies who were to keep the maestro, was so frightened that he ran out of the room screaming, and was left with polyps.

Haydn Joseph Franz(1732-1809)

Franz Joseph Haydn

His ancestors were Austro-German peasant artisans. He inherited his love for music from his father. Even when he was 5 years old, the musicians paid attention to him, because even then he had excellent hearing, memory, and a sense of rhythm. After the church choir, the future composer ended up in the choir chapel at the main St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. This was the most significant event in his life. In addition to singing, which occupied most of his time, he managed to play the violin and clavichord, achieving significant success in music making.

creative way

When Haydn's voice began to break, he was expelled from the chapel, and he had to start all over from the very beginning. In search of income, he began to give singing and music lessons, played the violin on holidays or just on highways, just not to die of hunger. However, he understood that these earnings were accidental. It was then that the decision came - musical writing. Only four years later he found a permanent job - he got a job as an accompanist to the famous Italian opera composer Nicola Porpora (1686-1768). He appreciated Haydn's musical talent and began to teach him composition.

Having read many books, having studied with many teachers, an upsurge was gradually brewing in his life: his financial situation began to improve, his life positions became stronger. In 1761, Haydn entered the service of the rich Hungarian princes Esterhazy and spent almost thirty years at their court as a composer and head of the chapel. In 1790, the chapel was dissolved, but Haydn retained his salary and the post of bandmaster. This gave the master the opportunity to settle in Vienna, travel, and give concerts.

Becoming a free composer, holder of many honorary degrees and titles, he worked extensively in England, Austria and Great Britain. Among his students was the young Beethoven.

Symphonies, quartets, sonatas and orchestra

Autograph score of a symphony by Joseph Haydn

The flourishing of such genres as the symphony (he has one hundred and four of them, not counting the lost ones), the string quartet (eighty-three), the clavier sonata (fifty-two) is associated with the work of Haydn; the composer paid great attention to concerts for various instruments, chamber ensembles and sacred music.

Haydn is credited with the formation of a stable composition of the symphony orchestra. Previously, composers were content with only those instruments that were currently available. The appearance of a stable composition of the orchestra is a clear sign of classicism. The sound of musical instruments was thus brought into a strict system, which obeyed the rules of instrumentation. These rules are based on knowledge of the capabilities of the instruments and assume that the sound of each is not an end in itself, but a means of expressing a certain idea. A stable composition gave an integral, homogeneous sound to the orchestra.

In addition to instrumental music, Haydn paid attention to opera and spiritual compositions (he created a number of masses under the influence of Handel), turned to the genre of oratorio (“The Creation of the World”, “The Seasons”).

"Father" of the symphony

Coins dedicated to the great composer

Joseph Haydn is often called the "father" of the symphony. It was in his work that the symphony became the leading genre of instrumental music.

In Haydn's symphonies, the development of the main themes is interesting. Conducting a melody in different keys and registers, giving it this or that mood, the composer thus discovers its hidden possibilities, reveals internal contradictions: the melody is either transformed or returned to its original state. Haydn had a subtle sense of humor, and this personality trait was reflected in his music. The ninety-fourth symphony is witty. In the middle of the second part, when the music sounds calm and quiet, timpani strikes are suddenly heard - so that the listeners “do not get bored”. It is no coincidence that the work was called "With the battle of the timpani, or Surprise." Haydn often used onomatopoeia (birds sing, a bear roams the air, etc.).

In symphonies, the composer often turned to folk themes, mainly Slavic - Slovak and Croatian.

Great joker

About the music of Joseph Haydn - one of the founders of the Viennese classical school - his friend and younger contemporary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote: Haydn".

Who is called the "father of the symphony"?

The symphony occupies a very honorable place in the world of music. Its history began two and a half centuries ago.

The word "symphonia" in Greek means consonance. In ancient Greece, this was the name given to a pleasant combination of sounds and harmonious choral singing. In ancient Rome, orchestral music was called a symphony.
The first symphonies in the present sense of the word appeared in Europe in the second half of the 18th century.

The creator of the classical symphony is considered Joseph Haydn.

In his work, it acquired its final form, which is why this composer is called the "father of the symphony."

And Mozart and Beethoven continued what he started and opened up new possibilities for this genre.

Click on the photo to view an enlarged image.

So, the classical symphony consists of four parts.

First- fast, active.
Second- andante - slow, thoughtful, usually devoted to dreams, nature.
Third part - minuet. This is a game, fun, folk festivals, round dances.
The final- the result of the whole work, the conclusion from what was said in three parts. Often the ending sounds solemn, victorious or festive.

Any symphony is a whole world created by the composer. It is often compared to a poem or a novel. After all, the musician seeks to express in the symphony everything for which a person lives in the world: the desire for happiness, justice and goodness, harmony in everything.

Haydn created 104 symphonies, of which I would like to recall the "Farewell Symphony", one of most famous symphonies future 18th century.

"Farewell Symphony" in a very interesting performance of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

The third genius, Beethoven, owns only 9. But almost every one of them is a new word in symphonic art. Here, at least take the sixth symphony, which is called "Pastoral".

The name "pastoral" comes from the Latin word "pastoralis" - "shepherd's". This theme was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient poets and writers sang of life in the bosom of nature - simple and sincere.

The fashion for pastoral subjects in music, theater and fine arts conquered all European countries in the 17th and 18th centuries. A lot of old operas were written on shepherd themes. They included folk songs and dances, cheerful rural festive festivities.

"Pastoral" Beethoven called his sixth symphony and dedicated it to man and nature. Her music is filled with the gentle voices of birds, the quiet murmur of streams, the sounds of folk instruments and even the tapping of dancers.
Beethoven gives the name of each part of the symphony: "Awakening of joyful feelings upon arrival in the village", "Scene by the stream", "Merry gathering of peasants". But suddenly a thunderstorm interrupts the fun. This is heard in the part “Thunderstorm. Storm". Gradually the horizon clears up, the storm subsides. The symphony ends with a serene light hymn "Joyful, grateful feelings after a thunderstorm."
This symphony is a hymn to nature, a person's gratitude for the peace and bliss given by it.
While writing the symphony, the composer was in a depressed state, he was very worried about his illness. He was threatened with complete deafness, and Beethoven already felt its approach. “No one can love nature like I do,” the composer said at the time. “Forests, trees and rocks send the response that the human heart is waiting for.”

The symphony occupies a very honorable place in the world of music. Its history began two and a half centuries ago.
The word "symphonia" in Greek means consonance. In ancient Greece, this was the name given to a pleasant combination of sounds and harmonious choral singing. In ancient Rome, orchestral music was called a symphony.
The first symphonies in the present sense of the word appeared in Europe in the second half of the 18th century.

The creator of the classical symphony is considered Joseph Haydn.

In his work, it acquired its final form, which is why this composer is called the "father of the symphony."

And Mozart and Beethoven continued what he started and opened up new possibilities for this genre.

Click on the photo to view an enlarged image.

So, the classical symphony consists of four parts.

First- fast, active.
Second- andante - slow, thoughtful, usually devoted to dreams, nature.
Third part - minuet. This is a game, fun, folk festivals, round dances.
The final- the result of the whole work, the conclusion from what was said in three parts. Often the ending sounds solemn, victorious or festive.

Any symphony is a whole world created by the composer. It is often compared to a poem or a novel. After all, the musician seeks to express in the symphony everything for which a person lives in the world: the desire for happiness, justice and goodness, harmony in everything.

Haydn created 104 symphonies, of which I would like to recall the "Farewell Symphony", one of most famoussymphonies future 18th century.

"Farewell Symphony" in a very interesting performance of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

The third genius, Beethoven, owns only 9. But almost every one of them is a new word in symphonic art. Here, at least take the sixth symphony, which is called "Pastoral".

The name "pastoral" comes from the Latin word "pastoralis" - "shepherd's". This theme was very popular in ancient Greece and Rome. Ancient poets and writers sang of life in the bosom of nature - simple and sincere.

The fashion for pastoral subjects in music, theater and fine arts conquered all European countries in the 17th and 18th centuries. A lot of old operas were written on shepherd themes. They included folk songs and dances, cheerful rural festive festivities.

"Pastoral" Beethoven called his sixth symphony and dedicated it to man and nature. Her music is filled with the gentle voices of birds, the quiet murmur of streams, the sounds of folk instruments and even the tapping of dancers.
Beethoven gives the name of each part of the symphony: "Awakening of joyful feelings upon arrival in the village", "Scene by the stream", "Merry gathering of peasants". But suddenly a thunderstorm interrupts the fun. This is heard in the part “Thunderstorm. Storm". Gradually the horizon clears up, the storm subsides. The symphony ends with a serene light hymn "Joyful, grateful feelings after a thunderstorm."
This symphony is a hymn to nature, a person's gratitude for the peace and bliss given by it.
While writing the symphony, the composer was in a depressed state, he was very worried about his illness. He was threatened with complete deafness, and Beethoven already felt its approach. “No one can love nature like I do,” the composer said at the time. “Forests, trees and rocks send the response that the human heart is waiting for.”

Classical music

Haydn - one of the three Viennese classics - is rightly considered the father of the symphony and the quartet, the great founder of classical instrumental music, the founder of the modern orchestra.

Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732 in Lower Austria, in the small town of Rorau, located on the left bank of the Leita River, between the towns of Brook and Hainburg, near the Hungarian border. Haydn's ancestors were hereditary Austro-German peasant artisans. The composer's father, Matthias, was a coachman. Mother - nee Anna Maria Koller - served as a cook.

The musicality of the father, his love for music was inherited by the children. Little Josef attracted the attention of musicians at the age of five. He had excellent hearing, memory, sense of rhythm. His sonorous silvery voice led everyone into admiration. Thanks to his outstanding musical abilities, the boy first got into the church choir of the small town of Gainburg, and then into the choir chapel at the Cathedral (main) St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. This was a significant event in the life of Haydn. After all, he had no other opportunity to receive a musical education.

Singing in the choir was very good for Haydn, but the only school. The boy's abilities developed rapidly, and difficult solo parts began to be entrusted to him. The church choir often performed at city festivities, weddings, and funerals. The choir was also invited to participate in court celebrations. And how much time did it take to perform in the church itself, to rehearse? All this was a heavy burden for the little singers.

Josef was quick-witted and quickly perceived everything new. He even found time to play the violin and clavicorde and achieved significant success. Only now his attempts to compose music did not meet with support. For nine years of being in the choir chapel, he received only two lessons from its leader!

However, the lessons did not appear immediately. Before that, I had to go through a desperate time of looking for a job. Little by little, I managed to find some work, although it did not provide, but still allowed me not to die of hunger. Haydn began to give singing and music lessons, played the violin at festive evenings, and sometimes just on the highways. On commission, he composed several of his first works. But all these earnings were accidental. Haydn understood that to become a composer one had to study hard and hard. He began to study theoretical works, in particular the books of I. Mattheson and I. Fuchs.

The collaboration with the Viennese comedian Johann Joseph Kurz proved to be useful. Kurtz was at that time very popular in Vienna as a talented actor and author of a number of farces.

Kurtz, having met Haydn, immediately appreciated his talent and offered to compose music for the libretto of the comic opera The Crooked Demon compiled by him. Haydn wrote music, which, unfortunately, has not come down to us. We only know that "The Crooked Demon" was performed in the winter of 1751-1752 in the theater at the Karinth Gate and was a success. "Haydn got 25 ducats for him and considered himself very rich." The bold debut of the young, still little-known composer on the theater stage in 1751 immediately brought him popularity in democratic circles and ... very bad reviews from the zealots of the old musical traditions. Reproaches of "buffoonery", "frivolity" and other fehs were later transferred by various zealots of the "sublime" to the rest of Haydn's work, starting with his symphonies and ending with his masses.

The last stage of Haydn's creative youth - before he embarked on an independent composer's path - were classes with Nicola Antonio Porpora, an Italian composer and bandmaster, a representative of the Neapolitan school. Porpora reviewed Haydn's composing experiments and gave him instructions. Haydn, to reward the teacher, was an accompanist in his singing lessons and even waited on him.

Under the roof, in the cold attic where Haydn huddled, on an old broken clavichord, he studied the works of famous composers. And folk songs! How many he listened to them, wandering day and night through the streets of Vienna. Here and there a variety of folk tunes sounded: Austrian, Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, Croatian, Tyrolean. Therefore, Haydn's works are permeated with these wonderful melodies, for the most part cheerful and cheerful.

In the life and work of Haydn, a turning point was gradually brewing. His financial situation began to improve little by little, his position in life grew stronger. At the same time, the great creative talent brought its first significant fruits.

Around 1750, Haydn wrote a small mass (in F major), showing in it not only a talented assimilation of the modern techniques of this genre, but also an obvious inclination to compose "jolly" church music. A more important fact is that the composer composed the first string quartet in 1755.

The impetus was an acquaintance with a music lover, the landowner Karl Furnberg. Inspired by Fürnberg's attention and material support, Haydn first wrote a series of string trios, and then the first string quartet, which was soon followed by about two dozen others. In 1756, Haydn composed the Concerto in C major. Haydn's philanthropist also took care of strengthening his financial position. He recommended the composer to the Viennese Bohemian aristocrat and music lover Count Josef Franz Morzin. Mor-tsin spent the winter in Vienna, and in the summer he lived in his estate Lukavets near Pilsen. In the service of Mortsin, as a composer and bandmaster, Haydn received gratuitous premises, meals and salaries. This service turned out to be short-lived (1759-1760), but nevertheless helped Haydn to take further steps in composition. In 1759, Haydn created his first symphony, followed by four others in the coming years.

Both in the field of the string quartet and in the field of the symphony, Haydn had to define and crystallize the genres of the new musical era: composing quartets, creating symphonies, he showed himself to be a bold, determined innovator.

While in the service of Count Morzin, Haydn fell in love with the youngest daughter of his friend, the Viennese hairdresser Johann Peter Keller, Teresa, and seriously intended to marry her. However, the girl, for reasons that remain unknown, left her parents' house, and her father did not find anything better than to say: "Haydn, you should marry my eldest daughter." It is not known what prompted Haydn to respond positively. One way or another, but Haydn agreed. He was 28 years old, the bride - Maria Anna Aloysia Apollonia Keller - 32. The marriage was concluded on November 26, 1760, and Haydn became ... an unhappy husband for many decades.

His wife soon showed herself to be a woman of the highest degree of narrow-mindedness, dullness and quarrelsomeness. She absolutely did not understand and did not appreciate the great talent of her husband. "She didn't care," Haydn once said in his old age, "whether her husband was a shoemaker or an artist." Maria Anna mercilessly destroyed a number of Haydn's music manuscripts, using them for papillottes and pate linings. Moreover, she was very wasteful and demanding.

Having married, Haydn violated the conditions of service with Count Morcin - the latter accepted only unmarried people into his chapel. However, he did not have to hide the change in his personal life for a long time. Financial shock forced Count Morcin to give up musical pleasures and dissolve the chapel. Haydn was in danger of being left without a permanent income again.

But then he received an offer from a new, more powerful patron of the arts - the richest and most influential Hungarian magnate - Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy. Drawing attention to Haydn in Morzin's castle, Esterhazy appreciated his talent.

Not far from Vienna, in the small Hungarian town of Eisenstadt, and in the summer in the Estergaz country palace, Haydn spent thirty years as a bandmaster (conductor). The responsibilities of the bandmaster included directing the orchestra and singers. Haydn also had to compose symphonies, operas, quartets and other works at the request of the prince. Often the capricious prince ordered to write a new essay by the next day! Talent and extraordinary diligence rescued Haydn here too. Operas appeared one after another, as well as symphonies, including "The Bear", "Children's", "School Teacher".

Leading the chapel, the composer could listen to the live performance of the works he created. This made it possible to correct everything that did not sound good enough, and remember what turned out to be especially successful.

During his service with Prince Esterhazy, Haydn wrote most of his operas, quartets and symphonies. In total, Haydn created 104 symphonies!

In the symphonies, Haydn did not set himself the task of individualizing the plot. The composer's programming is most often based on individual associations and pictorial "sketches". Even where it is more solid and consistent - purely emotionally, as in the "Farewell Symphony" (1772), or genre, as in the "Military Symphony" (1794), - it still lacks distinct plot foundations.

The enormous value of Haydn's symphonic concepts, for all their comparative simplicity and unpretentiousness, is in a very organic reflection and implementation of the unity of the spiritual and physical world of man.

This opinion is expressed, and very poetically, by E.T.A. Hoffmann: "The expression of a childishly joyful soul dominates in Haydn's works; his symphonies lead us into boundless green groves, into a cheerful, motley crowd of happy people, young men and girls rush before us in choral dances; laughing children hide behind trees, behind rose bushes, playfully a life full of love, full of bliss and eternal youth, as before the fall, no suffering, no sorrow - only a sweetly elegiac desire for a beloved image that rushes away in the pink shimmer of the evening, not approaching and not disappearing, and while he is there, night does not fall, for he himself is the evening dawn, burning over the mountain and over the grove.

Haydn's craftsmanship has reached perfection over the years. His music invariably aroused the admiration of numerous Esterhazy guests. The name of the composer became widely known outside of his homeland - in England, France, Russia. Six symphonies performed in Paris in 1786 were called "Paris". But Haydn had no right to go anywhere outside the princely estate, print his works or simply donate them without the consent of the prince. And the prince did not like the absences of "his" Kapellmeister. He was accustomed to Haydn, along with other servants, waiting at a certain time for his orders in the hall. At such moments, the composer especially acutely felt his dependence. "Am I a bandmaster or a bandleader?" he exclaimed bitterly in letters to friends. Once he nevertheless managed to escape and visit Vienna, see acquaintances, friends. How much joy brought him meetings with his beloved Mozart! Fascinating conversations gave way to the performance of quartets, where Haydn played the violin and Mozart the viola. With particular pleasure, Mozart performed the quartets written by Haydn. In this genre, the great composer considered himself his student. But such encounters were extremely rare.

Haydn had a chance to experience other joys - the joys of love. On March 26, 1779, the Polcellis were received into the Esterhazy Chapel. Antonio, the violinist, was no longer young. His wife, the singer Luigi, a Mauritanian from Naples, was only nineteen years old. She was very attractive. Luigia lived unhappily with her husband, as did Haydn. Exhausted by the company of his quarrelsome and quarrelsome wife, he fell in love with Luigi. This passion lasted, gradually weakening and fading, until the composer's old age. Apparently, Luigia responded to Haydn in return, but nevertheless, more self-interest was manifested in her attitude than sincerity. In any case, she steadily and very persistently extorted money from Haydn.

Rumor even called (it is not known whether it is fair) the son of Luigi Antonio, the son of Haydn. Her eldest son Pietro became the composer's favorite: Haydn took care of him like a father, took an active part in his education and upbringing.

Despite his dependent position, Haydn could not leave the service. At that time, the musician had the opportunity to work only in court chapels or lead the church choir. Before Haydn, not a single composer had ever ventured into an independent existence. Haydn did not dare to part with a permanent job. In 1791, when Haydn was already about 60 years old, the old prince Esterhazy died. His heir, who did not have a great love for music, dissolved the chapel. But he was also flattered that the composer, who had become famous, was listed as his bandmaster. This forced the young Esterhazy to give Haydn a pension sufficient to keep "his servant" from entering his new service.

Haydn was happy! Finally, he is free and independent! On the offer to go with concerts in England, he agreed. Traveling by ship, Haydn saw the sea for the first time. And how many times he dreamed about it, trying to imagine the boundless water element, the movement of the waves, the beauty and variability of the color of the water. Once in his youth, Haydn even tried to convey in music a picture of a raging sea. Life in England was also unusual for Haydn. Concerts in which he conducted his works were held with triumphant success. This was the first open mass recognition of his music. The University of Oxford elected him an honorary member.

Haydn visited England twice. Over the years, the composer wrote his famous twelve London Symphonies. The London Symphonies complete the evolution of Haydn's symphony. His talent reached its peak. The music sounded deeper and more expressive, the content became more serious, the colors of the orchestra became richer and more varied.

Despite being very busy, Haydn managed to listen to new music as well. A particularly strong impression was made on him by the oratorios of the German composer Handel, his older contemporary. The impression of Handel's music was so great that, returning to Vienna, Haydn wrote two oratorios - "The Creation of the Vdir" and "The Seasons".

The plot of "Creation of the World" is extremely simple and naive. The first two parts of the oratorio tell about the emergence of the world by the will of God. The third and last part is about the paradise life of Adam and Eve before the fall.

A number of judgments of contemporaries and immediate descendants about the "Creation of the World" by Haydn are characteristic. This oratorio was a huge success during the composer's lifetime and greatly increased his fame. Nevertheless, there were also critical voices. Naturally, the visual figurativeness of Haydn's music shocked philosophers and estheticians, tuned in to the "sublime" way.

Serov enthusiastically wrote about "The Creation of the World": "What a gigantic creature this oratorio is! There is, by the way, one aria depicting the creation of birds - this is a decisively higher triumph of onomatopoeic music, and, moreover, "what energy, what simplicity, what simple-hearted grace!" - this is decidedly beyond comparison.

The oratorio "The Seasons" should be recognized as an even more significant work of Haydn than the "Creation of the World". The text of the oratorio The Seasons, like the text of The Creation, was written by van Swieten. The second of Haydn's great oratorios is more diverse and deeply human not only in content but also in form. This is a whole philosophy, an encyclopedia of pictures of nature and Haydn's patriarchal peasant morality, glorifying work, love for nature, the delights of rural life and the purity of naive souls. In addition, the plot allowed Haydn to create a very harmonious and complete, harmonious musical concept of the whole.

Composing the enormous score of The Four Seasons was not easy for the decrepit Haydn, costing him many worries and sleepless nights. In the end, he was tormented by headaches and the persistence of musical performances.

"London symphonies" and oratorios were the pinnacle of Haydn's work. After the oratorios, he wrote almost nothing. Life has been too stressful. His strength was gone. The last years the composer spent on the outskirts of Vienna, in a small house. A quiet and secluded dwelling was visited by admirers of the composer's talent. The conversations touched on the past. Haydn especially liked to remember his youth - hard, labor, but full of bold, persistent searches.

Haydn died in 1809 and was buried in Vienna. Subsequently, his remains were transferred to Eisenstadt, where he spent so many years of his life.