Musicologists believe that the question of which keyboard instrument Haydn intended for his sonatas is secondary, as he, like most composers of his time, did not necessarily specify a particular instrument.
Composer Biography
Joseph Haydn, the composer, once remarked humorously about a premature rumor of his death, stating he would have traveled to Paris to conduct his own funeral mass.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn's piano sonatas are considered a kaleidoscopic representation of his process of freeing himself from the influence of Viennese composer Georg Christoph Wagenseil, who contributed to sonata form development.
Performer Biography
Ronald Brautigam, the performer on this recording, is recognized as a leading exponent of the fortepiano, with a particular interest in Mozart's music for the instrument.
Composition History
The 'Anno 1776 Sonatas' are named after the year they were made available, not the year of their composition, as Haydn himself referred to them as 'Six sonatas that appeared in 1776'.
Recording & Production
The fortepiano used in this recording was made by Paul McNulty in Amsterdam in 1992, modeled after an instrument by Anton Gabriel Walter from around 1795.
Compositional Technique
Haydn's piano sonatas, like those on this album, were often intended for Viennese amateur circles, leading him to sometimes compose minuets instead of technically demanding slow movements.
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