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FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN
Works & “Quirks”
Haydn's positive attitude and sense of humor made him a favorite
among musicians. Music students valued his knowledge and skill and
considered it an honor to learn from him. One such musician was Mozart.
Although Mozart was much younger than Haydn, the two men had a good
relationship and treated each other with a mutual respect reserved for the
obviously gifted. Although Haydn openly considered Mozart as the more
dramatic composer, his young counterpart looked to Papa Haydn as a mentor
and the master of quartets.
Haydn's sense of humor often came into play during his thirty-year
tenure with Prince Esterhazy. The prince had heard his work so often, that be
often fell asleep during Haydn’s performances. Haydn decided to “get the
prince’s attention” by creating a new symphony for the prince. This
symphony was designed to be so soothing that the prince would surely fall
asleep. The prince did indeed drift off. Then, suddenly, a loud chord
shattered the serenity of the murmuring movement. The prince awoke with a
start and almost fell off his chair! Haydn adeptly gave the piece the name
"Surprise Symphony." This “surprise” symphony really got the princes
attention!
On another occasion, Haydn was plagued by his musicians who were
complaining that they were long overdue for vacations. He again faced the
dilemma with ingenuity. Haydn composed a symphony during which the
musicians' parts dropped off two by two. On the evening of the performance,
Haydn saved this symphony as the last number, knowing that dusk would set
in and the musicians would need to play the piece by candlelight. As each
instrument's part finished, the musicians blew out their candles and left the
stage until only Haydn was left. Prince Esterhazy got the message and sent
everyone on vacation. Haydn named the piece "The Farewell Symphony."