Questions and Answers
Where was Franz Joseph Haydn born?
Rohrau, Austria
When did Franz Joseph Haydn die?
1809
What age did Franz Joseph Haydn move to Vienna?
8
Franz Joseph Haydn lived as an impoverished street musician for 16 years.
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At what age did Franz Joseph Haydn enter the employment of the Esterhazy family?
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Which symphonies did Franz Joseph Haydn compose during his visits to London?
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Franz Joseph Haydn returned to Vienna poor and unknown.
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How many masses and oratorios did Franz Joseph Haydn compose in his late 60s?
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Where was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born?
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When did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart die?
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy.
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At what age could Mozart play violin and harpsichord perfectly?
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What was Mozart's first symphony composed at?
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At what age did Mozart compose his first opera?
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Mozart's father was a court musician.
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For which figures did Mozart perform between the ages of 12 and 16?
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As an adult, Mozart liked being treated like a servant.
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Where did Mozart move to have better success as a free-lance artist?
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What was Mozart's final operatic commission?
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Mozart's requiem mass was commissioned by a friend.
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Mozart thought the requiem he was writing was for someone else.
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Who completed Mozart's requiem mass after his death?
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What musical forms did Mozart write masterpieces in?
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Mozart wrote concertos for various instruments including the clarinet.
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What did Mozart express his happiness about?
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When was Ludwig van Beethoven born?
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How old was Ludwig van Beethoven when he passed away?
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By age 11, Beethoven was the assistant to the court organist.
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Study Notes
Franz Joseph Haydn
- Born in Rohrau, Austria in 1732, became a prominent composer of the Classical era.
- Died in 1809 at the age of 77.
- Moved to Vienna at age 8, becoming a choir boy at the Cathedral of St. Stephen.
- Dismissed from church service due to voice change; lived as a struggling street musician and teacher for 16 years.
- Employed by the Esterhazy family at age 29, a powerful noble family in Hungary.
- Spent 30 years writing for weekly performances in Esterhazy palaces.
- Achieved success in London during 1791-1792 and 1794-1795; composed 12 symphonies known as the London Symphonies.
- Returned to Vienna in 1795, celebrated and wealthy.
- Composed 6 masses and 2 oratorios in his late 60s, gaining immense popularity.
- His masses and oratorios led to the formation of specialized choruses and orchestras for their performance.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756, a key figure in Western music history.
- Died in Vienna on December 5, 1791 from rheumatic fever, shortly before his 36th birthday.
- Recognized as a child prodigy with extraordinary musical talents.
- By age 6, could play violin and harpsichord, exhibiting perfect sight-reading abilities.
- Composed his first symphony at 8 years old, first oratorio at 11, and first opera at 12.
- Father was a court musician, significantly influencing his early development.
- Performed for notable figures, including Empress Maria Theresa and King Louis XV between the ages of 12 and 16.
- Disliked being treated as a servant while working for the Archbishop of Salzburg.
- Moved to Vienna; found greater success as a freelance artist.
- Experienced a decline in success after composing Don Giovanni.
- His last operatic work, The Magic Flute, was successful but financially insufficient.
- The requiem mass, commissioned by a stranger, was believed by Mozart to be for himself; he rushed to complete it before his death.
- The requiem was finished posthumously by his friend and student, Franz Süssmayer.
- Prolific across various musical forms, wrote symphonies, string quartets, and operas, including concertos for several instruments.
- Credited with solidifying the clarinet's place in orchestral music by writing concertos for this newer instrument.
- Expressed deep passion for composition, stating, "I am never happier than when I have something to compose."
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Born in Bonn, Germany in 1770 into a musical family and died in Vienna, Austria in 1827 at 57 years old.
- Became assistant to the court organist by age 11, reflecting his early proficiency in music.
- Established as a critical transitional figure between the Classical and Romantic eras in music.
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Test your knowledge of classical composers such as Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. These flashcards provide key facts about their lives and contributions to music. Perfect for music students and enthusiasts!
