Great Masters: Haydn - His Life and Music

By: Robert Greenberg, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Greenberg

Almost from the moment it was first set to paper, the music of Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - technically superb, rich in quality, and widely imitated - has exemplified the Classical style, creating not only the Classical-era symphony but setting the standard, through his own 68 string quartets, against which that form has ever after been judged.

And yet Haydn, despite the influence left by more than 1,000 works, seems to no longer get his due, often thought of as an aged figure surpassed and overshadowed by Beethoven and Mozart, who actually credited Haydn, the only contemporary he admired, and with whom he formed a lasting and artistically fruitful friendship, with teaching him how to write string quartets. Even Beethoven, whose relationship with his compositional teacher was troubled and stormy, would never have been able to write his triumphant Ninth Symphony without the influence of Haydn's crowning achievement, the towering 1798 oratorio, Creation.

Now, in a series of eight vivid lectures, you can learn to understand and appreciate the music of one of the most original and influential composers of all time as you explore his origins, influence, and greatest works.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2000 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2000 The Great Courses

Greenberg is entertaining

This is among the best of these classical music courses. Greenberg is a huge personality, enthusiastic and not for everyone. But he is easier to follow on audio than video, at least for me.

The lectures and music examples have an adequate balance with the lectures illustrating the music examples.

It does bother me that the sound quality of the music in these presentations is generally poor and almost always monophonic. After all, the music is polyphonic.

One of the Best

I’ve listened to dozens of Great Courses and this is now one of my all time favorites. There wasn’t a boring moment in this lecture series! The presentation was clear and dynamic. The content was excellent in showing us Hayden’s life and in giving us enough context of the times to understand it. Highly recommend.

Incredible Narrator

I am not a music person. This is why I listen to audiobooks. However the author/narator is an incredible speaker and has really turned me on to symphonies.

Great.

Great, as all the great music courses by Professor Greenberg.
He delivers and transmits his wisdom and passion.

Haydn. excellent historical narrative.

Haydn. excellent historical narrative. well read, well written. highly interesting. Greenberg has great musical knowledge.