God's Happy Musician
  
 

Peter H. Johnson, Jr., 32°
1524 Smith Drive, Holbrook, Arizona 86025-1951

Bro. Franz Joseph Haydn's life in music was a great service to God and man.

Papa Haydn's dead and gone, but his memory lingers on. When his heart was filled with bliss, he wrote happy tunes like this." Such rhymes evoke our stereotypical image of a somewhat simpleminded Franz Joseph Haydn, the kindly old musician who wrote the loud note in the "Surprise Symphony" to make the ladies jump. The caprices of history have been kinder to Mozart and Beethoven. In contrast, the stature of this cultural giant has diminished despite the justifiable claims that he is "The Father of the Symphony," "The Father of the String Quartet," and "The Father of the Modern Orchestra." In his own day, his intellect was so highly regarded that his skull was exhumed from the grave shortly after his death and subjected to bizarre forensic experiments.

Haydn was born in the village of Rohrau, Austria, in 1732, dying in 1809 at age 77. His birthday is given as March 31st, but contemporary research indicates he was actually born on April 1st, All Fools' Day, perhaps accounting for the possible deception in dates. His family was of humble Croatian peasant stock. His father was an amateur musician and wheelwright, and his mother had once been a cook at Rohrau Castle. Haydn's lowly background would actually prove to be a great asset in the years to come, providing him with an almost endless supply of folk and gypsy-like melodies for his many compositions.

By age six, Haydn's musical talent was already evident. He was sent away to live and study with his father's cousin who was a choirmaster. By age eight, Haydn was singing in the choir at St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church in Vienna and also studying theory and counterpoint. Haydn would remain a devout Roman Catholic throughout his entire life. By age 17, Haydn's well-known sense of humor emerged in the form of a childish prank. He cut off the pigtail braid of another student. For this reason and his faltering soprano voice, he received a caning and was dismissed from the choir.

Undaunted, the young musician was soon making a meager living by singing in the streets, playing dance music in the taverns, and giving music lessons. A stroke of luck occurred when Haydn secured the position of valet to the then famous composer, Nicolo Porpora. In return for shining shoes and other menial work, Haydn received lessons and also met many well-to-do people.

This led Haydn to receive an appointment as music director to Prince Anton Esterhazy in 1761. Haydn would serve the Esterhazy family for almost 30 years. Under this enlightened patronage, he would compose almost every conceivable variety of vocal and instrumental music for the Prince's many functions. Director Haydn's duties also involved seeing that his musicians were clothed in appropriate attire and wig and that their deportment remained unsullied. Due to his kindly and charitable demeanor, the great musician became known as "Papa Haydn" by his charges.

With the approval of the Prince, Haydn constantly experimented in his vast outpouring of music. Furthering the techniques of the Viennese Classic School, Haydn added his own touches. He used unexpected accents, modulations, and syncopated rhythms. He also used keys with many flats and sharps and gave the wind instruments of the orchestra a more independent voice. Despite his growing sense of musical sophistication, Haydn managed to retain a child-like simplicity in his music. Even his masses and other sacred pieces display an unbounded measure of good humor. This caused disapproval from many critics who were accustomed to traditionally dour church music. Papa Haydn emphatically responded: "At the thought of God my heart leaps for joy and I cannot help my music doing the same." Haydn's deity was indeed a happy God!

One aspect of Haydn's life, however, was not happy. Once deeply in love with one of his students, Haydn instead married her older sister while his true love became a nun. Haydn's wife had no interest in his music and is said to have even used his manuscripts as hair curlers.

A far warmer relationship in Haydn's life was his friendship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, nearly 25 years his junior. It is thought that Mozart's deep interest in Freemasonry influenced the 51-year-old Haydn to petition Zur wahren Eintracht, True Harmony, Lodge in Vienna for membership. Mozart had been a Mason since his initiation into Zur Wohltätigkeit (Charity) Lodge on December 14, 1784.

Haydn's initiation was scheduled for January 28, 1785, and his dear friend Mozart was in attendance. Unfortunately, Haydn did not receive his invitation in time and was not actually initiated until February 11th. Haydn anticipated his initiation with boyish enthusiasm. In a letter dated February 2, 1785, to Count Aponyi concerning his forthcoming Masonic Degree, Haydn mused: "Oh, how I wish it were Friday already. Oh, to feel the unspeakable joy of being among such worthy men!" Lodge records indicate Haydn was actually initiated in Zur Wahrheit, the Truth, Lodge as a courtesy to his home Lodge. The address of Junior Warden Joseph von Holzmeister to Apprentice Brother Haydn concerning the nature of harmony has been preserved in the Lodge minutes and reads as follows.

"It is superfluous to describe to you, our new Brother Apprentice, the charms of that heavenly being, harmony. You already know so well her great power in one of the most beautiful branches of human knowledge. This lovable goddess seems to have given you part of her sweet, magical powers of which to calm the turbulent soul, to lull to sleep pain and sorrow, to shorten the melancholy hours and lift the spirits to great and noble heights. I shall be content if I have been successful, through my brotherly advice, in persuading you to remain faithful to your dear friend, even in this new domain."

On February 12th, the day after his initiation, Apprentice Brother Haydn paid a call on the Mozarts and was serenaded by three of Mozart's recent string quartets. Haydn was delighted and told Leopold Mozart that his son was the greatest composer he knew either personally or by reputation. In all probability, Leopold's initiation into the Craft was also discussed. Father Mozart did in fact join the same Lodge as his famous son, taking all three Degrees in April of 1785. Unfortunately, Brother Haydn's further association with Freemasonry was slight, possibly because of his continuing duties with Prince Esterhazy, which prevented frequent trips to Vienna. It is worth noting that at the time of his ballot, the great musician was excused, possibly as an honor, from paying dues to his Lodge.

At the approach of old age, Haydn's musical creativity reached new heights. After the death in 1790 of Prince Nicholas, Haydn made two highly productive trips to England, resulting in the twelve "London Symphonies" and the "Oxford Symphony." The composer now had a large orchestra of about 40 musicians at his disposal. His final symphonies are true masterpieces and are among the most beloved works of the entire orchestral repertoire. Surprisingly, after hearing the great oratorios of Handel performed in England, Haydn abandoned the symphonic form altogether and composed two magnificent oratorios, The Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801).

Haydn's last public appearance was at a performance of The Creation in 1808, a year before his death. Many famous musicians were in attendance, including Salieri, Hummel, and Haydn's former student, Beethoven. At the words "And there was light," the orchestra intoned a grand C major chord. The old man, overcome with emotion, pointed upward and exclaimed, "It came from there!" Too frail to continue, Papa Haydn was carried out in an armchair with his hands raised as if to give a final blessing to all assembled.

Franz Joseph Haydn's life was one of service to God and man. A partial listing of his works includes 104 symphonies, 54 sonatas, 31 concertos, 24 operas, and 16 masses. In summing up his career, the elder musician modestly pondered: "I think I have done my duty and been of some use in my generation by my works. Let others do the same."

Peter H. Johnson, Jr.
is a Past Gr. Commander of the Knights Templar of Arizona. He served as W.M. of Chalcedony Lodge No. 6, Holbrook, Ariz.(1990 and 1996), and belongs to the York Rite Bodies in Winslow, Ariz., and the Scottish Rite Bodies in Tucson. Employed as a public school music teacher for 31 years, he enjoys researching Masonic musicians and playing the saxophone with the Northland Pioneer College Band and the Windjammers Unlimited Circus Concert Band.