Did you know that Haydn’s skull was laid to rest in his grave only 145 years after the composer’s death? Today is a special day in the world of classical music! March 31 marks the birthday of Joseph Haydn – the oldest of the three composers of the First Viennese School. Check out more interesting facts in our new encyclopedia entry!
- Among Haydn’s 108 symphonies, you can find works with interesting nicknames or subtitles. For example, Symphony No. 82 in C major is called L’ours, meaning “the bear”. In the finale, a characteristic accompaniment stands out which, combined with heavy, dance-like chords, reminds listeners of a dancing bear.
- After Haydn’s death in 1809, phrenology supporters desecrated his temporary grave and removed the composer’s head in order to examine his skull. The case came to light in 1820, when Prince Esterházy decided to arrange an official burial of the composer’s remains. Rosenbaum, the prince’s former accountant, was accused of this outrageous act. The skull was ultimately returned to Haydn’s grave only in 1954.
- Haydn’s favourite musical form was the minuet. He composed minuets both as part of larger forms and as standalone pieces. He wrote over 200 of them, most of which was lost. The works were functional, popular both in palace chambers and in Viennese taverns.
- Haydn’s works also feature examples of unusual instruments. In his March in E-flat major and March in C major he used the serpent – an instrument from the cornett family, made of two hollowed-out halves of chestnut wood. He also composed nearly 130 trios and other pieces for baritone (a type of viola da gamba), the favourite instrument of Prince Esterházy.
The full entry – along with more fascinating facts from the composer’s life – can be found here! Take a look at our collection of the composer’s scores, available in the Polish Music Library.
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