Sonata in C major by Haydn

1732-1809

A few days ago, I had my fifth piano competition.  At the competition I played Sonata in C major hob 16 no 35 by Franz Joseph Haydn.  My sister also played at the competition, and she played Sonata in D major by Haydn also.  He wrote many pieces for the orchestra but he also wrote some pieces for the piano.

Haydn was an Austrian composer, who was born on March 31, 1732.  He played during the classical period with Clementi,  Beethoven and Mozart.  He wrote many pieces for the orchestra but he also wrote some pieces for the piano. He was also a close friend of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and a taught  Ludwig van Beethoven.  Haydn spent much of his career (30 years) as a court musician for the wealthy Esterházy family.

Haydn was a master at developing themes.  He built  a whole movement around one major theme through varying textures and rhythm.  Haydn's created 104 symphonies along with 68 string quartets and they are considered the most important part of his enormous productions. Many of them have nicknames, like Surprise, Military, Clock, and Drum Roll.

At the time of his death, he was one of the most famous composers in all of Europe. Haydn died in 1809, at the age of seventy-seven.

After the concert, the judges emailed the teachers our places.  They gave out 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention. I received an honorable mention.   Below is a video of Sonata in C major hob 16 no 35.

Have you ever listened to Haydn's music?
 

Do you like it?