He was the father of the symphony and the string quartet. He invented sonata form. His output was extraordinary. 60 piano sonatas, 100+ symphonies, numerous chamber pieces, masses and oratorios, including the sublime "Creation." He was mentor and friend to Mozart, teacher to Beethoven.
say - did you know he was kicked out on the street basically when his voice changed. apparently he had a wonderful voice and sang in a boys choir...but when his voice changed - he had to start teaching and get lots of other things going to support himself. he had a few rough years before he established himself. i have to find my books on him.
If Beethoven is the greatest composer of classical music, then is Haydn just as great for giving birth to him?
I think Haydn is even more important composer than Mozart.. here's why.. Mozart was very good at excelling in the forms that were popular at the time.. But Haydn came up with the original idea that gave birth to beethoven.. I'm not sure Beethoven would have been the composer he was if it was not for Haydn, whereas Mozart could have existed or not, but it wouldn't have affected Beethoven.If Beethoven is the greatest composer of classical music, then is Haydn just as great for giving birth to him?Haydn experimentation in his piano works, and only a few of the later ones really have it, are the seed of Beethoven. The 2 e-flat sonatas and the C-major English are works of the highest genius, and led the way to Beethoven who led the way to the Romantics. It's like Haydn cracked the ice, and Beethoven shattered it.
do you think beethoven learned as much from haydn as haydn beethoven?
I think Haydn is even more important composer than Mozart.. here's why.. Mozart was very good at excelling in the forms that were popular at the time.. But Haydn came up with the original idea that gave birth to beethoven.. I'm not sure Beethoven would have been the composer he was if it was not for Haydn, whereas Mozart could have existed or not, but it wouldn't have affected Beethoven.
Beethoven Op. 13 is modeled on Mozart K. 457, Beethoven's third concerto is modeled on Mozart 491, Beethoven's piano and winds quintet and clarinet trio are modeled in Mozart examples (cough, cough, the first of their kind in each case). Fidelio owes a whole lot to the marriage of Figaro. To say that Beethoven was unaffected by Mozart seems not very plausible.You may also explore how much Mozart influenced Haydn. Although Haydn was older, Mozart developed a personal style much earlier, and, to follow your reasoning, Haydn's London symphonies are unthinkable without Mozart's Prague, g minor and Jupiter symphonies.