LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Joseph Haydn: Prince Esterhazy
built 617 days ago
In 1761 the Esterhazy family, one the richest and most influential of the Hungarian nobility, employed Haydn. By 1766 he had full control over all the music at the Esterhazy palace (Esterhaza), writing numerous symphonies, string quartets, and sonatas, as well as other chamber music and operas. His music for the Esterhazys often shows a certain wit and lightheartedness.
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In 1761, Haydn began his lifelong relationship with the wealthiest family among Hungarian nobility, the Esterhazy family. Haydn spent nearly 30 years of his life here. He was hired as vice-Kapellmeister earning 400 gulden a year, and as time went on, his salary increased as well as his ranking within the court. His music became widely popular.
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Haydn's duties as Kapellmeister to the Esterházy family involved the provision of church music, as well as music for entertainment. The Mass settings composed for the younger Prince Nikolaus include the well known Nelson Mass, celebrating the English admiral's victory at the Battle of the Nile. Between 1796 and 1802 Haydn wrote seven Masses, all with popular German nicknames, "Heiligmesse", "Paukenmesse", "Coronation Mass", "Theresienmesse", "Schöpfungsmesse" and "Harmoniemesse
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In 1790, Prince Nikolaus died and was succeeded by a thoroughly unmusical prince who dismissed the entire musical establishment and put Haydn on a pension. Freed of his obligations, Haydn was able to accept a lucrative offer from Johann Peter Salomon, a German impresario, to visit England and conduct new symphonies with a large orchestra.
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The reverse of the coin displays a portrait of Haydn together with his signature and the years of his life 1732- 1809. The obverse of the coin depicts the castle of Esterhazy in Eisenstadt, where he lived and worked for many years. Above the castle a staff of music can be seen. Eisenstadt today is the site of an annual Haydn Festival.
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Prince Esterhazy