Haydn received a well-rounded musical education as a choirboy at St Stephen's in Vienna, learning keyboard, violin, and composition in addition to singing.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at Trinity Church, New York, with the Missa brevis recorded in May 2001 and the Harmoniemesse in September 2008.
Composition History
Haydn's musical output was closely tied to the needs of his patrons, such as the Esterházy court, where he was required to write a Mass each year.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn believed that compositional process and artistic inspiration were linked to spirituality; he would pray with his rosary when composing.
Compositional Technique
The Harmoniemesse earned its nickname from Haydn's use of a full 'Harmonie,' or wind band, which was still relatively novel in the early 19th century.
Critical Reception
Some of Haydn's contemporaries criticized his late Masses as 'too cheerful to be sacred,' finding their lively tempos more suitable for the dance hall than the church.
Composer Biography
Haydn's earliest musical experiences were as a choirboy, and his first and last compositions were Mass settings.
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