Mozart and Haydn

Two of history’s greatest figures in the development of Classical style music during the eighteenth century were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Both men worked together and were very close friends while living in Vienna. Between the two, Joseph Hayden and Amadeus Mozart devoted much of their music for composing symphonies, minuets, librettos, sonatas, concertos, masses, oratorios and operas. While both men achieved popularity and status during their time, they also discovered that success must be earned rather than freely given. While both men enjoyed similar success during their lives, their character and personal lives contrast one another as one developed a haughty spirit and died penniless after enjoying a life of fame and the other lived peacefully with all men and died wealthy while serving others.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756. According to Boerner, not much is known about Mozart’s early years other than being born into a musical family and learning music at a young age. Mozart displayed great musical ability and became known as a musical prodigy. Young Amadeus displayed his musical gift as he developed his first musical composition called Andante in C within a thirty minute timeframe as he was about to turn five years old. While Mozart’s musical gifting developed, his father, neglecting his duties as vice-Kapellmeister, focused on Amadeus’ musical ability, leading him to take young Amadeus on tour around Europe. As this developed, touring increased and Amadeus’ fame began to spread while many anxiously waited to hear the young maestro’s music. Many were amazed at his remarkable skills as he went on tour in Paris and London and visited many courts along the way. Throughout his life, Mozart composed many musical pieces that were greatly admired. Amadeus composed over 600 sonatas, concertos, minuets, librettos, serenades, oratorios, cantatas, operas and symphonies, and is one of the most remembered and respected musicians of all time.

Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria on March 31, 1732. Like Mozart, Haydn’s talent was also recognized at a young age. According to Schneider, Haydn’s cousin who served as a schoolmaster quickly recognized his musical ability and offered to take him to school to further develop his musical skills. After years of hardship and challenges that were thrown at him in life, Haydn’s persistence paid off when, according to Schneider, his musical talent became noticed and he was offered the position of Music Director for Count Morzin. This eventually led to being offered and accepting employment with Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy where he became the Vice-Kapellmeister and later Kapellmeister. The Esterhazys, were a family of extremely wealthy Hungarian princes that Haydn would serve for the next thirty-five years. While serving this noble family, Haydn composed eleven operas, sixty symphonies, five masses, thirty sonatas, one concerto, and hundreds of shorter pieces. He later enjoyed more success and praise for what is now known as his London symphonies.

Despite his celebrity status, Mozart’s life was filled with suffering. Although he had great musical ability, Mozart’s strange dependence on his father and early fame may have led to his immaturity with others and with his personal finances. At a young age, Mozart’s fame quickly spread as he was lavishly celebrated by all. Being fully conscious of his musical talent, an arrogant demeanor developed with many that he worked for and with. This celebrity status and arrogance often got Mozart into trouble and fired from jobs that he felt were beneath him and opened him up to defiance toward those he was to serve. The servant wanted to be treated as the master. This is also evident during his service to Archbishop Colloredo as he requested to be discharged due to being unhappy with “the way he was being treated” in Vienna. Mozart’s character displayed little discipline and maturity apart from music. He often went through periods of financial difficulty despite being paid well for a musician during his time. He and his wife lived lavishly often leading this proud man with the need to borrow money. Mozart is one of the most influential people in musical history, yet his story is one of the saddest ones to be told. Although respected and highly revered for his musical contributions all over the world, this talented boy grew