Haydn

by David Wyn Jones (Editor)

In his lifetime Joseph Haydn enjoyed huge popularity throughout Europe. As a composer of symphonies, quartets, masses, and oratorios he was readily acknowledged by Mozart, Beethoven, and others as a commanding figure. He is one of the founding fathers of classical music, yet only in the last 50 years have his works become available in reliable editions, and much biographical detail has come to light at the same time. Meanwhile, his music is more popular today than it has been at any time since his death. This detailed, scholarly, and lively Companion draws together a wealth of biographical detail and expert analysis for the the first time in an accessible, engaging format. It covers Haydn's life and times, and his music, including its performance and reception. The Companion focuses on the period of Haydn's life (1732-1809), but extends forward to the end of the 20th century, to cover Haydn's reputation in the 19th century, attempts at complete editions, and modern scholarship. Selected feature entries cover such topics as Haydn's life and personality, major genres in which he worked, performance practice, dissemination, and the Enlightenment. The A-Z text is complemented by a full list of Haydn's works, family trees, and a list of first lines.

Genres: Music

Hardcover

First published June 6, 2002

Reviews

[robin friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Comprehensive Guide To Haydn

David Wyn Jones, the editor of this outstanding 2002 reference work on Haydn, (1732 -- 1809), notes in his Preface that "Joseph Haydn was the last 'great' composer to be adequately served by scholarship." This book, part of the Oxford Composer Companion series, fulfills its promise of offering a comprehensive guide to Haydn's life, music, and legacy based upon the most up-to-date modern scholarship. David Wyn Jones is senior lecturer in music at the University of Wales and the author of numerous books about Haydn and the Classical Era. The 900 plus entries in this volume were prepared by 41 contributors, each a Haydn scholar in their own right. This book is a treasure-trove of information about Haydn for the lover of his music.

I was drawn to this book to help me in my project, completed recently, of listening to CDs of each of Haydn's 104 numbered symphonies and preparing a survey of them in online reviews. Thus, the Oxford Companion includes a 34-page essay on Haydn's symphonies by Professor Simon McVeigh, Goldsmith College, University of London. Professor McVeigh's article includes an introduction to symphonic form and traces its development from Haydn's earliest to his final works in nine carefully organized sections. Virtually every symphony is given some individual attention, as McVeigh examines the course of Haydn's 36 years of symphonic writing. I found this guide indispensable to my project of getting to understand and write briefly about Haydn's symphonies.

I supplemented the basic article on the symphony with many others from this volume, including, most basically, a long biography of the composer written by Wyn Jones. I found valuable the many articles about the intellectual climate of Haydn's day, particularly the articles on Enlightenment, Freemasonry, Sturm und Drang, and Josephism. There are articles on sonata form, the minuet, and variation which are critical to better enjoying the symphonies. The article on performance practices discusses issues in the performance of Haydn from his lifetime up to current debates. An excellent article treats recordings of Haydn's music and an essay titled "reception" by the dean of Haydn scholars, H.C. Robbins Landon, discusses how Haydn's music has been received and assessed over the years. These are only some of the articles that were of interest to me as I heard and wrote about Haydn's symphonies.

This book gives a compelling picture of the breadth and depth of Haydn's output. It includes lengthy essays on every form in which Haydn worked including the string quartet, oratorio, piano sonata, trio, concerto opera, mass, song, baryton music and much more. Many works are discussed in individual entries. Haydn is a composer that one can stay with and love over a long period of time.

The book opens with a "thematic overview" which is an index to the entries arranged by subject matter. I found it easy to use, but those coming to the book will want to examine it to find the entries that interest them. Following the detailed entries, an appendix lists Haydn's works organized by type. This appendix impressed me as little else could with the vastness of Haydn's output. A second appendix covers individual numbers in Haydn's vocal works.

This book is essential for those wanting to do scholarly work on Haydn. But, perhaps more importantly, it will appeal to lovers of music who want to explore and enjoy the work of this great composer in depth.

Robin Friedman

[Eric Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main bulk of alphabetical entries is good, but what I really like is the complete catalogue of works included at the back--a good prompt for searches into the obscurer reaches of Haydn's output (I had no idea he wrote cello duets...they're delightful, as the phrase "cello duet" implies). The basic numbers are familiar but still staggering: 76 quartets, over 100 symphonies; of both forms he is called "the Father." The inexhaustabilty of Haydn is one of the consolations of life. Always fresh delights. He's the Shakespeare of music.

"He alone has the secret of making me smile, and touching me to the bottom of my soul." - Mozart on Haydn

[Gurn Blanston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have spent the last 5 years studying Haydn, not only to totally familiarize myself with his life and music, but also in preparation for writing a book about him myself. I found this book to be an invaluable handbook and memory jogger. There are a few gaps, particularly in the Works Catalog, where Dr. Jones omits works of questionable authenticity altogether. It would have been more useful (although admittedly time and space-consuming) to at least list them at the end of each section so that when ones happens to want to find something about a piece, one instantly knows that it is dubious if nothing else.

But I quibble. The book is a must-have for anyone interested in this greatest of composers, whose life is still in the shadows.

[Lazarus P Badpenny Esq · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid survey in an accessible A-Z format. I particularly enjoyed the longer set pieces including entries on the Enlightenment, together with Vienna and London full of colourful detail which manages to never lose sight of their duty to illuminate Haydn's creative life. Definitely benefits from the most up-to-the-moment biographical scholarship.

[Federico]

good