A Musical Biograhy; Or Sketches of the Lives and Writings of Eminent Musical Characters. Interspersed with an Epitome of Interesting Musical Matter (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824. Excerpt: ... they civilize and polish; in a word, they soften the cares of life, and render its heaviest calamities much more supportable by adding to the number of its innocent enjoyments. FRANCIS JOSEPH HAYDN. Francis Joseph Haydn was born on the last day o March, 1732, atRohrau, a small town, fifteen leagues distant from Vienna. His father was a cartwright; and his mother, before her marriage, had been cook in the family of Count Harrach, the Lord of the village. The father of Haydn united to his trade of a cartwright, the office of parish sexton. He had a fine tenor voice, was fond of his organ, and of Music in general. On one of those journies, which the artisans of Germany often undertake, being at Frankfort-on-the-Mayne, he learned to play a little on the harp: and in holidays, after church, he used to take his instrument, and his wife sung. The birth of Joseph did not alter the habits of this peaceful family. The."little domestic concert returned every week, and the child, standing before his parents, with two pieces of wood in his hands, one of which served him as a violin, and the other as a bow, constantly accompanied his mother's voice. A cousin of the cartwright, whose name was Frank, a schoolmaster at Haimburg, came to Rohrau, on Sunday, and assisted at the trio. He remarked, that the child, then scarcely six years old, beat the time with astonishing exactitude and precision. This Frank was well acquainted' with Music, and proposed to his relations to take little Joseph to his house, and to teach him. jlhey accepted the offer with joy, hoping to succed more easily in getting Joseph into holy orders, if he should understand music. From his most tender age, Music had given him unusual pleasure. At any time, he would rather listen to any instrument wh...