The programme notes for the Requiem Mass are probably the most difficult, because so much has been written about the circumstances and conspiracy theories etc that it is difficult to say anything new - but I don't think I'll try too hard, as the music speaks for itself.
I got interested in Haydn, though, as he wrote the Salve Regina in 1771 in thanks for his recovery from a serious illness. So I went exploring online to find out what the illness was. You'll be devastated to hear that I failed utterly - so there won't be details of blood letting, leeches, vomiting, unpleasant sweats and other treatments and symptoms to add a Certain Something to the programme.
My previous knowledge of Haydn from "O" level music was very limited. The standard opening to an essay was. "Haydn's father was a musical wheelwright and his mother was a musical cook" from some textbook or other - and then there were lists of symphonies and that he worked for Prince Esterhazy. Boring or what!
So what did I find out? Haydn showed early musical promise, and was sent to live with a relative to become a chorister before he was seven. He never returned to live with his parents again, and suffered neglect and starvation as a chorister, which stunted his growth in later life. His father was a wheelwright, but rose to become Mayor of his town, and his mother's work as a cook prior to her marriage had been in a princely household.
He had a miserably unhappy marriage, and both he and his wife had affairs with other people. Haydn was very fond of pretty women, and was financially duped by at least one young lady. He was pious and modest, and generous and supportive to fellow musicians. He wrote loads of music of every sort, but chafed under the restrictions of being a court employee, unable to make money from his own compositions. In later life, he showed his business acumen in brisk notes and strong negotiations with his publishers.
I think I would have liked Haydn.
I got interested in Haydn, though, as he wrote the Salve Regina in 1771 in thanks for his recovery from a serious illness. So I went exploring online to find out what the illness was. You'll be devastated to hear that I failed utterly - so there won't be details of blood letting, leeches, vomiting, unpleasant sweats and other treatments and symptoms to add a Certain Something to the programme.
My previous knowledge of Haydn from "O" level music was very limited. The standard opening to an essay was. "Haydn's father was a musical wheelwright and his mother was a musical cook" from some textbook or other - and then there were lists of symphonies and that he worked for Prince Esterhazy. Boring or what!
So what did I find out? Haydn showed early musical promise, and was sent to live with a relative to become a chorister before he was seven. He never returned to live with his parents again, and suffered neglect and starvation as a chorister, which stunted his growth in later life. His father was a wheelwright, but rose to become Mayor of his town, and his mother's work as a cook prior to her marriage had been in a princely household.
He had a miserably unhappy marriage, and both he and his wife had affairs with other people. Haydn was very fond of pretty women, and was financially duped by at least one young lady. He was pious and modest, and generous and supportive to fellow musicians. He wrote loads of music of every sort, but chafed under the restrictions of being a court employee, unable to make money from his own compositions. In later life, he showed his business acumen in brisk notes and strong negotiations with his publishers.
I think I would have liked Haydn.
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