Both Johann Michael Haydn and his brother Franz Joseph Haydn were choir singers at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Vienna, where Michael frequently performed as a soloist.
Composition History
The Divertimento in E flat major for viola, violoncello and violone was only discovered in 1970 and does not appear in Perger's famous inventory of Michael Haydn's works.
Composer Biography
Johann Michael Haydn, the composer featured on this recording, was the brother of the more famous Franz Joseph Haydn and was well-known and esteemed in his time.
Compositional Technique
Michael Haydn frequently entrusted the lowest voice to the double bass, which was preferred over the cello in both chamber and church music during his era, especially in Salzburg.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Michael Haydn, along with other choir members from St. Stephen's, founded a musical club to identify plagiarisms in the works they studied and performed.
Compositional Technique
Michael Haydn developed a strong interest in the unique instrumental color created by the contrast between the violin and oboe and the double bass in his mature compositions.
Interpretation
Piccolo Concerto Wien chose to use a violoncello piccolo instead of a standard cello in the Quartet in C major for its more interesting timbric qualities.
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