Joseph Haydn (1732--1809) was a prolific composer. Since he lived to be 77 years old, he had ample time to churn out music. Mozart, on the other hand, was born later and died earlier than Haydn. Both Haydn and Mozart lived in Vienna and were friends. Mozart dedicated six string quartets to Haydn. Haydn wrote 104 symphonies, 83 string quartets, 52 piano sonatas and over 60 sonatas.
When Haydn died, his skull was stolen from his grave. His skull was not reunited with his body until 1954. A strange tale! resources.encoretours.com/bac...
Notes from Dr. Hulbert:
"As a young pianist, I played Franz Joseph Haydn's popular C major Sonata. It wasn't until 50 years later, though, that I finally played another Haydn Sonata, this simple, yet charming Sonata Hoboken XVI: 35. (Was Hoboken the founder of a city in New Jersey? Nope, he was the person who catalogued all of Haydn's music, more than 750 works in all!)
As I looked through the works, I was struck by the impish humor and playful jagged melodies found in the last movement of this E-flat major Sonata. Here are some fun spots to enjoy: The rollicking opening theme from (0:08) and the rolling arpeggios at (0:29-32). These passages return later in the movement at (0:57) and also at (2:16). A recapitulation returns at (2:33) and again at (4:48). The surprise ending by the "Surprise Symphony" composer ends this charming movement with a disappearing act that floats away into thin air at (3:30) and again at (5:04). I hope you will have as much fun listening to this movement as I have had learning it!"
Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of late-romantic Russian composer Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Instrumental Recording. David Hurwitz of ClassicsToday.com called the CD “a production that makes the best possible case for this really excellent but sadly neglected repertoire.” Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.
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