The Esterházy family had been part of the Hungarian nobility since the Middle Ages and by the 17th century were one of the largest landowners in the Hungarian portion of the Habsburg empire. In his new position, Haydn conducted the orchestra at the count’s home and wrote new music, including his first symphonies, for the group to perform. As Haydn became more well-known he eventually moved up the social ladder until in 1757 he was hired by Count Morzin to be his Kapellmeister, or music director. Haydn’s first patron was Countess Thun for whom he taught singing and keyboard. Sometimes the composer would also be required to teach lessons in singing or on an instrument. Usually the composer would have to write works to be performed at their patron’s home, often by the composer themselves. In Vienna, at the time, many musicians made their living through patronage, a system where a person of high status and monetary means would pay the composer for their talents. Eventually Haydn’s name became more recognizable and he secured his first patron. Haydn occasionally worked at the Imperial Court on holidays when extra musicians were needed for balls or for church services. He had compositions published, although some were copies of works he gave away, preventing him from earning any money. Haydn began writing his own music and was recognized for his comic opera, Der krumme Teufel, “The Limping Devil.” Although the opera was initially successful, the government censors found some “offensive remarks” in the work and shut down the production. During this time he also taught himself the music theory he hadn’t learned before, working through a book of counterpoint and studying the music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Haydn had a hard time finding steady employment, instead working a variety of jobs including music teacher, street musician, and accompanist. A friend stepped in to give Haydn a place to stay while he tried to find a job as a freelance musician. Reutter subsequently caned Haydn, then dismissed him from the choir, which also meant Haydn lost his home. Haydn snipped off the pigtail of a fellow chorister. Although this might not have been enough for him to be dismissed from the choir, his mischief sealed the deal. By 1749 Haydn’s voice had changed and he was unable to sing the higher parts. Although he did not receive many formal lessons, Haydn learned a great deal about theory and composition simply by being a part of the choir. Surprisingly, Reutter only taught Haydn two lessons in music theory and composition during his nine years in the cathedral choir. Haydn’s education was somewhat well-rounded he learned Latin and other traditional school subjects, as well as instruction in voice, violin, and harpsichord. Haydn’s younger brother, Michael, became a chorister and moved into the home in 1745. Haydn lived with Reutter and his family and four other choirboys in a house next to the cathedral. A few months later, Haydn, only eight years old at the time, moved to Vienna to join the cathedral choir. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna was in Hainburg, Haydn auditioned to become a chorister at the cathedral and was accepted. When Georg von Reutter, the music director for St. He apparently had an excellent singing voice. Haydn began learning the harpsichord and the violin and sang in the local choir. Haydn never lived with his parents again. At age six, Haydn moved in with a relative who was a school and choir master in another town, Hainburg, to start his musical training. At an early age, Haydn showed musical talent and his parents realized that he could not receive the training he needed in their small village. Although neither parent had any formal musical training, the Haydn household was filled with music as the family sang and played together. Although he couldn’t read music, Haydn’s father was an amateur musician and taught himself to play the harp. His father was a wheelwright and served as the village mayor. He was born in 1732 in Rohrau, Austria which was near the Hungarian border. Franz Joseph Haydn was the oldest of this group of four composers who lived in Vienna around the same time.
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