At the age of twenty-eight Haydn composed his first symphony. Soon
after this he attracted the attention of the old Prince Esterhazy, all
the members of whose family have become known in the history of music
as generous Mæcenases of the art.
"What! you don't mean to say that little blackamoor" (alluding to
Haydn's brown complexion and small stature) "composed that symphony?"
"Surely, prince," replied the director Friedburg, beckoning to Joseph
Haydn, who advanced towards the orchestra.
"Little Moor," says the old gentleman, "you shall enter my service. I
am Prince Esterhazy. What's your name?"
"Haydn."
"Ah! I've heard of you. Get along and dress yourself like a
_Kapellmeister_. Clap on a new coat, and mind your wig is curled.
You're too short. You shall have red heels; but they shall be high,
that your stature may correspond with your merit."
So he went to live at Eisenstadt in the Esterhazy household, and
received a salary of four hundred florins, which was afterwards raised
to one thousand by Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. Haydn continued the
intimate friend and associate of Prince Nicholas for thirty years, and
death only dissolved the bond between them. In the Esterhazy household
the life of Haydn was a very quiet one, a life of incessant and happy
industry; for he poured out an incredible number of works, among them
not a few of his most famous ones. So he spent a happy life in hard
labour, alternated with delightful recreations at the Esterhazy
country-seat, mountain rambles, hunting and fishing, open-air
concerts, musical evenings, etc.
A French traveller who visited Esterhazy about 1782 says--"The château
stands quite solitary, and the prince sees nobody but his officials
and servants, and strangers who come hither from curiosity. He has a
puppet-theatre, which is certainly unique in character. Here the
grandest operas are produced. One knows not whether to be amazed or
to laugh at seeing 'Alceste,' 'Alcides,' etc., put on the stage with
all due solemnity and played by puppets. His orchestra is one of the
best I ever heard, and the great Haydn is his court and theatre
composer. He employs a poet for his singular theatre, whose humour and
skill in suiting the grandest subjects for the stage, and in parodying
the gravest effects, are often exceedingly happy. He often engages a
troupe of wandering players for months at a time, and he himself and
his retinue form the entire audience. They are allowed to come on the
stage uncombed, drunk, their parts not half learned, and half dressed.
The prince is not for the serious and tragic, and he enjoys it when
the players, like Sancho Panza, give loose reins to their humour."
Yet Haydn was not perfectly contented. He would have been had it not
been for his terrible wife, the hair-dresser's daughter, who had a
dismal, mischievous, sullen nature, a venomous tongue, and a savage
temper. She kept Haydn in hot water continually, till at last he broke
loose from this plague by separating from her. Scandal says that
Haydn, who had a very affectionate and sympathetic nature, found ample
consolation for marital infelicity in the charms and society of the
lovely Boselli, a great singer. He had her picture painted, and
humoured all her whims and caprices, to the sore depletion of his
pocket.
In after-years again he was mixed up in a little affair with the great
Mrs. Billington, whose beautiful person was no less marked than her
fine voice. Sir Joshua Reynolds was painting her portrait for him, and
had represented her as St. Cecilia listening to celestial music. Haydn
paid her a charming compliment at one of the sittings.
"What do you think of the charming Billington's picture?" said Sir
Joshua.
"Yes," said Haydn, "it is indeed a beautiful picture. It is just like
her, but there's a strange mistake."
"What is that?"
"Why, you have painted her listening to the angels, when you ought to
have painted the angels listening to her."
At one time, during Haydn's connection with Prince Esterhazy, the
latter, from motives of economy, determined to dismiss his celebrated
orchestra, which he supported at great expense. Haydn was the leader,
and his patron's purpose caused him sore pain, as indeed it did all
the players, among whom were many distinguished instrumentalists.
Still, there was nothing to be done but for all concerned to make
themselves as cheerful as possible under the circumstances; so, with
that fund of wit and humour which seems to have been concealed under
the immaculate coat and formal wig of the strait-laced Haydn, he set
about composing a work for the last performance of the royal band, a
work which has ever since borne the appropriate title of the "Farewell
Symphony."
On the night appointed for the last performance a brilliant company,
including the prince, had assembled. The music of the new symphony
began gaily enough--it was even merry. As it went on, however, it
became soft and dreamy. The strains were sad and "long drawn out." At
length a sorrowful wailing began. One instrument after another left
off, and each musician, as his task ended, blew out his lamp and
departed with his music rolled up under his arm.
Haydn was the last to finish, save one, and this was the prince's
favourite violinist, who said all that he had to say in a brilliant
violin cadenza, when, behold! he made off.
The prince was astonished. "What is the meaning of all this?" cried
he.
"It is our sorrowful farewell," answered Haydn.
This was too much. The prince was overcome, and, with a good laugh,
said: "Well, I think I must reconsider my decision. At any rate we
will not say 'good-bye' now."