HAYDN, JOSEPH, the father of modern orchestral music, the most original and imaginative of composers, was born at Rohrau, about 15 leagues from Vienna, on the 31st of March 1732. His parents were humble; his father was a small wheelwright, and his mother, previous to her marriage, was cook to the lord of the village ; but both, true Austrians, were musical. The former had a fine tenor voice, and could play ou the harp, the latter sang, and, with the aid of a relation, they got up little concerts on Sunday afternoons, in which the young Haydn, when five years of age, pretended to join them with two pieces of wood cut in imitation of a violin and bow. The accuracy with which his motions kept time with the domestic music attracted the notice of a cousin, a schoolmaster at Haimburg, and a good musician, who made an offer, which was readily accepted, to take the child into his house as a scholar. Under the friendly roof of that kinsman he learned music as an art, soon became capable of using a real violin, and acquired some knowledge of Latin. He was also taught to sing in the parish church, where he was heard by Herr Reuter—kapellmeister of the cathedral of St. Stephen at Vienna, who was travelling in search of boys for the use of his choir—and imme diately engaged as a chorister in the metropolitan church of the empire.
Under Reuter, Haydn continued till be arrived at the age of thirteen, practising almost incessantly, but receiving only such instructions from his master as qualified him for the duties of the choir. At that period, failing, for want of sufficient knowledge, in an attempt at composition, and being deatitute of the means of obtaining the assistance of a mas ter, he contrived to procure tho well-known treatise on counterpoint by Fuchs, with one or two other works on the theory of music, by means of which, and his own indefatigable industry, he speedily surmonnted the first difficulties encountered by a youthful composer. Ho now made himself known to the famous Porpora, who was living in the hotel of the ambassador from Venice, and by very assiduous attentions to the old musician gained much knowledge from him, particularly in singing. in which he made such progress that the ambassador having heard him took him into his service, and bestowed on him a trifling salary. But at the age of seventeen his soprano voice left him, and with it fled the present means of living. His
father could render him no assistance, and, sorely distressed, ho was offered an asylum in the house of Keller, a wigmaker, who had often been charmed by his vocal powers. The hospitality was accepted, and Haydn was in ohecurity enabled to pursue his studies. But his residence with the friendly tradesman powerfully influenced his future domestic life. Keller had a daughter, who was offered to the young musician in marriage. He gave his promise to her, which after a time he honourably fulfilled ; the union however did not contribute to the happiness of either party, and ended iu a separation not very long after it had taken place.
By giving a few lessons in music, and occasionally performing in the orchestra for what he could get, Haydn supplied himself with absolute necessaries; and frugality being one of the German virtues, he managed to preserve a tolerably decent appearance till fortune first began to smile on him, by leading him into tho house of the Abate Metastasio, where he gave instructions to the poet's niece, and gained not only a thorough acquaintance with the Italian language, but a general knowledge of literature, and the most useful advice on the subject of setting words to music, from the imperial laureate. This connection also introduced. him to the Count Martzin, a noble patron of music, into whose service he entered in 1759; and hence, in 1761, he passed into that of the rich Prince Esterhazy, to whom ho remained attached, as Maestro di Capella, to the end of his life.
Comfortably settled in the palace of Eisenstadt, in Hungary, enjoy ing in moderation his favourite diversions of bunting and fishing, and relieved from care for the future, Haydn there composed all the great works which he produced prior to the year 1791, and under advan tages which few, if any, have possessed : he had a full choice band, living under the same roof with him, at his command every hour is the day ; he had only to order, and they wero ready to try the effect of any piece, or even of any passage, that, quietly seated in his study, he might commit to paper. Thus at leisure he beard, cor rected, and refined whatever he conceived, and never sent forth his compositions till they were in a state to fearlessly challenge criticism.