Haydn, Joseph

ha'dn, Joseph (1732-1809), an Austrian musician. He was born on the borders of Hungary and died at Vienna. He received his early education at Hamburg. At eight he was received into the boy choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral at Vienna. At sixteen his voice changed, and he was thrown upon the world for himself. He came under the influence of Bach's music, to which, as he himself stated, he owed the inspiration of his life. He gave music lessons and attracted the attention of some of the leading musicians of the city. Later he obtained a position as an organist, and life went on more easily thenceforward. In 1761 Haydn was appointed chapel master, or musical director, by Prince Esterhazy, a position which he retained for thirty years. Haydn was one of the world's great musical composers. A complete list of his works has never been compiled. Nearly 400 pieces are known. In 1790 he was received in London with great enthusiasm. His greatest composition is an oratorio, The Creation, the words to which are a translation into German from Milton's Paradise Lost. While listening one evening to the storm of applause that followed a rendering of his Creation, Haydn was seized with faintness and was carried from the theater in a large chair. As he turned from the audience, tears streaming from his eyes, he held out his hands as if to bless the orchestra. This was his last appearance in public. See Bach