Franz Joseph Haydn was one of the main musical pillars of the Classical period. As one of the most prolific and prominent composers of his time, he earned names such as the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet." These names only attempt to approach the massive contributions he made to these forms, setting the stage for future composers such as Beethoven (who was also his student).
Haydn played a critical role in the development of the piano trio and in the evolution of sonata form. He also brought the symphony to the forefront of the classical repertoire as a form of composition. Haydn produced a massive output that consisted of over 100 symphonies and numerous chamber works, piano sonatas, and string instrument pieces.
The evolution of Haydn's musical style takes one on a truly remarkable ride through the musical ages. Beginning in a period in which the compositional style of the High Baroque (as in Bach and Handel) had gone out of fashion, Haydn began to push the boundaries of exploration and uncertainty. Over the subsequent decades, Haydn's work increased gradually in sophistication and complexity. Haydn would enter the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) period of the late 1760s and early 1770s, only to return to a lighter and more entertaining style in the following period.
Our catalog of Haydn's music contains a number of orchestral transcriptions for string instruments!
Exclusive Haydn Scores for Strings from Ovation Press
