[painting of Haydn, narrator speaking:] Joseph Haydn was the most popular composer of instrumental music during the late eighteenth century. It was Haydn who gave the definite form to the classical symphony. [painting of Esterhazy estate] He spent many years as musical director for the rich and powerful Esterhazy family. Their luxurious, isolated country residence was an ideal setting for his musical experiments.
[painting of musicians] In Haydn’s many compositions for the Esterhazy orchestra, the characteristic four movement form of the symphony took shape. The first movement was usually fast, and dynamic. The music is full of contrast, and surprises. The versatile, tightly knit orchestra creates a wide variety of moods and musical textures.
[picture of Esterhazy estate] Haydn developed a more intimate musical medium in the string quartet. [painting of Haydn] His quartets often suggests a group of people engaged in a lively conversation. [pastel portraits by the French artist, Maurice Quentin de la Tour]They conjure up characters like these pastel portraits by the French artist, Maurice Quentin de la Tour. Informal, spontaneous, and animated. The Esterhazy family spent part of each winter in [painging of Vienna] Vienna, here Haydn could take part in the life of the leading musical city of the German speaking world, and it was here that he met the young musician that he admired above all others. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart