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Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn
Dates
1732–1809
Era
Classical (1750–1820)
Recognition
essential popular
Wikipedia

Where to start with Haydn

Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles
  1. Orchestral
    Keyboard Concerto in D major, Hob.XVIII:11
  2. Vocal
    Die Jahreszeiten, Hob.XXI:3, "The Seasons"
  3. Chamber
    String Quartet in C major, Hob.III:77, op. 76, no. 3, "Emperor"
  4. Keyboard
    12 Menuetti di ballo, Hob.IX:11
  5. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 100 in G, Hob.I:100, "Military"
  6. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 103 in E flat major, Hob.I:103, "Drum Roll"
  7. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 104 in D, Hob.I:104, "London"
  8. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 45 in F sharp minor, Hob.I:45, "Farewell"
  9. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 94 in G, Hob.I:94, "Surprise"
  10. Orchestral
    Cello Concerto no. 1 in C major, Hob.VIIb:1
  11. Vocal
    Die Schöpfung, Hob.XXI:2, "The Creation"
  12. Chamber
    String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:34, op. 20, no. 4, "The Sun"
  13. Chamber
    String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:63, op. 64, no. 5, "Lark"
  14. Chamber
    String Quartet in D minor, Hob.III:76, op. 76, no. 2, "Fifths"
  15. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 101 in D, Hob.I:101, "Clock"

Listening guide

Hand-curated paths into Haydn's catalogue
  1. Symphony No. 94 ”Surprise”
  2. Symphony No. 104 ”London”
  3. Trumpet Concerto in E-flat
  4. The Creation (oratorio)
  5. String Quartet Op. 76 No. 3 ”Emperor”

Most Acclaimed

  1. String Quartet Op. 33 ”Russian” set
  2. Piano Sonata in E-flat Hob. XVI:52
  3. The Seasons (oratorio)
  4. String Quartet Op. 76 No. 5 in D major
  5. Seven Last Words of Christ

Most Weird

  1. Symphony No. 45 ”Farewell”
    musicians leave the stage one by one mid-finale until only two violins remain — Haydn’s protest to the Prince
  2. String Quartet Op. 33 No. 2 ”The Joke”
    the final movement has three fake endings; audiences started applauding before the real end
  3. Seven Last Words of Christ
    seven slow adagio movements in a row — the original commission was for Cadiz Cathedral to play between the priest’s readings
  4. Symphony No. 60 ”Il Distratto”
    the violins have to retune during the finale — they’ve been ”distracted” and forgotten
  5. Piano Sonata No. 62 in E-flat
    his last sonata — so Beethovenian it shocked people

Similar composers

Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinity

Works 618