Haydn And Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Two Giants Of The Classical Period

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Two Giants of the Classical Period
What does perfection sound like? Does it even have a sound? Is there such a thing as perfection in an art form that, by its very nature, is asymmetrical? How do you express beauty in music?

There are, of course, no definitive answers to these questions. If we were, however, to begin a quest for answers, the first place to search would be the music of Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two great masters of the Classical period.

These composers and their music have a lot in common. For a time, both lived in Vienna, composed in all of the major genres, and expressed an indefinable element of charm or even whimsy in their works. Yet, in other respects, they could not have been more different. …show more content…

It has been argued that his music is perhaps some of the most cheerful ever written, and, to a large extent, that is true. At times, however, it also shows the serious, perhaps even tragic side of his character. Haydn was a deeply religious man that could write intense, powerful music.

Even though Haydn composed over 750 works, he is most famous for his 104 symphonies, including the one nicknamed the London Symphony, and for his 83 string quartets. He also composed concertos for various instruments of which the best known are two concertos for cello, and the Trumpet Concerto in E-flat …show more content…

From this point onward, Haydn's life and daily activity revolved around the magnificent palace and estate at Esterháza.

Because he was fairly isolated at the palace, other composers didn't significantly influence Haydn's music. Instead, he developed his own, highly original style. These were still the days of the patronage system, when music was the privilege of the nobility, and public concerts were rare. When the Prince died in 1790, Haydn's obligations became much lighter. Although he remained in the service of the Esterházys, he was able to move permanently to Vienna, and make several visits to London.

During the final years of his life, Haydn's relentless creativity continued unabated until he finally retired in Vienna. He died quietly on May 31, 1809, following the surrender of the city to the troops of Napoleon, who just a few days before had ordered a guard of honor in front of Haydn's

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