Joseph Haydn was one of the preeminent composers of the Classical era. Employed by the Esterhazy noble family, he composed a staggering 104 numbered symphonies, almost 70 string quartets, and the oratorios “The Creation” and “The Seasons.” After his years under Esterhazy patronage, Haydn traveled Europe and famously visited London, becoming its most celebrated composer of the time.
Haydn undoubtedly built his reputation on his compositional skills. He earned the titles “Father of the Symphony” and “Father of the String Quartet” for his pioneering development of both genres. Audiences and critics regarded him as the very image of refinement and culture. Yet this distinguished composer had a mischievous side. Close friends and acquaintances knew Haydn to be cheerful and good-humored—qualities that show in some of his more unorthodox compositions.
