Glenn Fischer

Music History II

Dr. Morgan-Ellis

29 January 2017

Franz Joseph Haydn

String Quartet Op. 20, no. 2 in C Major

Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria in 1732. Unlike many other notable composers from his era, Haydn was not born into a family of established musicians. His father was a wheel maker with no formal education, and his mother was a cook for nobility. Haydn’s talent was noticed by his parents at a very young age, and by age six he was sent to live in a neighboring town with his cousin, who was a choirmaster. Throughout his early career, he composed, studied, and taught lessons to children while living in Vienna. In 1761, Haydn began his job as Kapellmeister for the extremely wealthy Esterhazy family. This was a very prominent point in his career. Haydn’s career consisted of many different stages, and during his time with the Esterhazy’s he composed Op. 20. Also at this time, a literary movement called Sturm und Drang was occurring, which was very focused on emotional expression and considered a catalyst of the Romantic Era’s creation. Much of the music Haydn composed at this time contained characteristics of the Sturm und Drang movement. Haydn is known as a highly influential figure in the evolution of string quartets, and this particular piece is considered one of his milestones. Haydn carried out a tremendously prolific career and eventually died of illness in 1809. 

1. The piece was composed while Haydn was working as Kapellmeister for Prince Nicholas Esterházy at the palace in Hungary. The palace had a symphonic chamber where the piece was first performed. He composed this work during the Sturm und Drang era, which influenced the heavy emotion conveyed in the piece. 
2. The genre is String Quartet, and it is a slightly unusual example of this genre. Although no. 2 is in C major, Haydn incorporated minor keys in some of the other sets of Op. 20. This blending of major and minor keys was a result of the Sturm und Drang movement, to emphasize extremes of emotion. 
3. This piece is in sonata form, and Haydn used fugues consistently as finales in movements. The piece is part of his rejection to the galant style. He followed many rules of the form by beginning with the exposition, and moving to the development and recapitulation. The piece is single tonic throughout and transposes to c minor occasionally. The simplicity of the form is an appeal to natural and elegant emotion. Some of the other notable advancements in the music are the ensemble textures and techniques. The violins became more equal voices, and the cello and viola became more independent. In addition, the music has more symmetry and counterpoint. 
4. Some characteristics of the music are considered to be influential to the development of the Romantic era, particularly because of how emotionally driven the music became. However, Op. 20, no. 2 does share characteristics of the Romantic era with the Classical era, and in many peoples’ opinion, this piece would fall in between. 

Sources:

Taruskin, Richard, and Christopher Howard. Gibbs. The Oxford history of Western music. New York: Oxford U Press, 2013. Print.

Hadden, J. Cuthbert. Haydn. Adelaide: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2002. Print.

Grave, Floyd K., and Margaret G. Grave. The string quartets of Joseph Haydn. New York: Oxford U Press, 2006. Print.