The Classical Period

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732-1809)

Key Terms & Concepts

Baryton
Prince Esterhzy of Austria
Monothematic sonata form
Scherzo
String quartet
Rondo
Refrain
Episode

Classicism
Reached its peak towards
the end of the eighteenth
century
Liberal ideas of
enlightened rulers such
as Joseph II of Vienna
(right) attracted
composers from all over
Europe

Haydn and Mozart

Haydn and Mozart

The 2 most remarkable composers of the 18th century
They were friends, and admired each others work and
influenced each other
Both experienced the political changes in Europe
which led to the French Revolution
Both were performing musicians:
Haydn: excellent violinist, conducted from harpsichord
Mozart: virtuoso pianist, able string player

Both composed prolifically

Haydn vs. Mozart

Haydn lived to 77, Mozart died at 36
Haydn grew into his abilities, Mozart was a child star
Haydn served one patron for most of his career;
Mozart never had one principal patron
Haydn found musical roots in styles around Vienna;
Mozart traveled widely & took on international styles

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732-1809)
From 1761-1790s, he
served Prince Esterhazy
of Austria and his court
1790-95: Haydn was
allowed to make several
trips to London as a
musical entrepreneur and
celebrity
He was one of the
composers who
pioneered genre of the
the string quartet

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732-1809)
He often used humor in
his music
He wrote in all genres:
104 symphonies, 20
concertos, 68 string
quartets, 29 keyboard trios,
47 keyboard sonatas,
ensemble works, 15
operas, 12 Masses, 2
oratorios, other vocal
works
And 126 baryton trios!
(see pic of baryton at right)

Esterhza
Summer country
palace of the
Esterhzy family,
rivalling Versailles in
splendor
Haydn composed,
conducted,
trained musicians,
and kept
instruments in
repair

Esterhza
Nicolaus (successor to
the first prince Haydn
served) played the
baryton (an instrument of
fading importance) and
had Haydn write much for
him
Haydn kept up on trends
when in the Vienna
palace (right), but relative
isolation at Esterhza
helped him become more
original

Haydns Symphonies
He composed more than 104 symphonies, at least 92
of which before 1789 (mostly for the Esterhza
orchestra)
Many have nicknames which Haydn didnt give them
The Paris symphonies (Nos. 82-87) & London
symphonies (Nos. 92-104) written for commission
Early symphonies: usually 3 movements (fast-slowfast); some have 4 movements in one key, like the
Baroque sonata della chiesa
By the late 1760s, he worked in the 4-movement form
Allegro, andante moderato, minuet & trio, allegro

Symphony No. 92 in G Major

(Oxford, 1789)
(Anthology, p. 111-44 & 173-75; CD 7:52 & 7:62)
Performed at Oxford, England when Haydn received
an honorary doctorate in 1791
An excellent example of symphonic structure
A Typical Movement I:
Opposition of stable and unstable sections: P, S & Cl as
stable; Tr, Development as unstable (also slow introduction
when present)
Stable sections: balanced, 4-bar phrases with cadences
Unstable sections: full orchestra, sequences, modulations,
overlapping phrases, few cadences
Some of Haydns Secondary themes use the same melody as
the Primary themes (monothematic sonata form)

Symphony No. 92 in G Major

(Oxford, 1789)
Usually the Development ends with a significant
dominant pedal
Sometimes Haydn blurs the start of the Recapitulation
and fakes a modulation partway through, to maintain
drama
Typical other movements:
II: slow movement; ABA, theme & variations, or sonata form
without repeats
III: Minuet & Trio (ABA overall, each part is a small binary
form; trio is scored lighter)
IV: Finale is usually faster & shorter than mvt. I; sonata form
or rondo form (ex/ ABACABA)

Haydns String Quartets

Many intended for very
good amateurs
Like a conversation
between 4 instruments
He wrote 68 of them,
which grow in length and
expressiveness
Later minuets are called
scherzo (joke) and are
more playful

String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op.

33 No. 2 (The Joke), Mvt. IV
(Anthology, p. 103-110; CD 7:47)

Finale in rondo form:

A B A C A Coda, where A = Refrain (initially in
rounded binary form; later refrains are increasingly
abbreviated)
B and C represent Episodes (usually freely
composed; here, they are based on motives from
the Refrain)
The movement refuses to end = humor