1760s–1790sReputable sourceWell documented
Haydn and the Birth of the Symphony
On the timeline · around 1760s–1790s · The Classical Era
What happened
Working for decades in the service of the Esterházy princes of Hungary, the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn did more than anyone to establish the two central forms of Classical music: the symphony, for full orchestra, and the string quartet, for two violins, viola, and cello. Across more than a hundred symphonies he shaped the balanced, witty, elegant style of the Classical era.
Why it matters
Haydn's symphonies and quartets became the templates that Mozart, Beethoven, and generations of composers built upon. He turned the orchestra and the quartet into vehicles for some of the greatest music ever written.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Joseph Haydn · Reputable source