Episode 1
Donald Macleod explores the work of Joseph Haydn's younger brother, focusing on his time as music director to the Bishop of Grosswardein and as a concertmaster in Salzburg.
He was respected by Mozart, revered by Schubert, and regarded during his lifetime as the leading contemporary composer of church music. Who was he? The answer is Michael - yes, Michael - Haydn. Johann Michael Haydn, to give him his full name, has come down to posterity as little more than a footnote in the biography of his celebrated older brother, Joseph. After all, Joseph Haydn was 'father' of the symphony and the string quartet - and Michael wasn't.
Michael Haydn may be less historically significant than Joseph, but he's nonetheless an important composer in his own right, and his achievement has been overshadowed in a way that it might perhaps not have been had he borne a different family name. Michael Haydn has come down to posterity as little more than a footnote in the biography of his celebrated older brother, Joseph. Donald Macleod takes him out of those footnotes and into the footlights, placing him centre-stage for a change - a position he can occupy quite unapologetically and without having to ask his big brother's permission.
This episode sees him take up his first job - as Music Director to the Bishop of Grosswardein - and move on to his second, as concertmaster to the archiepiscopal court at Salzburg, where he was to remain until his death 43 years later, working alongside Leopold Mozart and, for a time, his son Wolfgang. On the playlist: Haydn's first symphony; an early liturgical work, Christus factus est; his only surviving piano composition; and an extract from one of his most brilliantly virtuosic serenades.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
Michael Haydn
Partita [Symphony] no.1c in E flat major, MH35 (P1)
Performer: Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, Johannes Goritzki (Conductor)
- CPO 999 380-2,.
- 8 to 11.
-
Michael Haydn
Christus factus est (gradual), MH38
Performer: St Jacob's Chamber Choir, Gary Graden (Conductor)
- BIS-CD-859,.
- 12.
-
Michael Haydn
Variations in C major for piano (P132)
Performer: Wolfgang Brunner
- CPO 999 230-2,.
- 5.
-
Michael Haydn
4 movements from Serenade in D major, MH68
Performer: 6. Allegro spiritoso Performer: Prager Kammerorchester / Gernot Schmalfuss (Conductor)
- Orfeo.
- 6.
-
Michael Haydn
4 movements from Serenade in D major, MH68
Performer: 7. Menuetto - Trio Performer: Prager Kammerorchester / Gernot Schmalfuss (Conductor)
- Orfeo.
- 7.
-
Michael Haydn
4 movements from Serenade in D major, MH68
Performer: 3. Andante Performer: Prager Kammerorchester / Gernot Schmalfuss (Conductor)
- Orfeo.
- 3.
-
Michael Haydn
4 movements from Serenade in D major, MH68
Performer: 9. Finale. Presto Performer: Prager Kammerorchester / Gernot Schmalfuss (Conductor)
- Orfeo.
- 9.
Broadcasts
- Mon 17 Nov 2008 12:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 17 Nov 2008 22:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 21 Jun 2010 12:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
- Mon 21 Jun 2010 22:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Composers A to Z
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.