No composer has ever achieved the amazing artistic progression that Haydn has. He invented the string quartet as we know it became known as 'the Father of the Symphony' and mentored the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His creative life was one of ceaseless experimentation and invention. Author David Hurwitz shows readers how to more fully enjoy Haydn's music acquainting them with the master's innovative melodic creativity revolutionary use of musical form and important characteristics of his personal style such as his genius for writing in minor keys and creating comedy in his music. Hurwitz explores Haydn's vocal music and instrumental masterpieces that fall outsidethe mainstream as well as his principle instrumental works. A special chapter of letters and quotations by the composer himself introduces the reader to Haydn the man. Four appendices list all of his symphonies string quartets Piano sonatas and Piano trios and specify their distinguishing characteristics. Two accompanying Naxos CDs provide more than two and a half hours of beautiful music keyed to pieces described in the book.

Frère de Joseph Haydn, violoniste, pianiste et compositeur, Michael Haydn (1737-1806) reste encore trop méconnu. Pourtant ce compositeur prolifique s?est aussi distingué comme organiste à la tribune de
l?orgue tenu par Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart à partir de 1781. De ses nombreuses compositions, on peut retenir une trentaine de symphonies mais aussi un célèbre Requiem et un beau Concerto pour alto,
orgue et orchestre. Cet ouvrage permettra enfin de (re)découvrir un auteur essentiel de la période classique qui a contribué au rayonnement de Salzbourg et de l?Autriche dans l?Europe musicale du XVIIIe
siècle, affirmant ainsi l?importance de la famille Haydn en ce temps-là / Livre /