Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-25
FAMOUS MEN.
EnANA aOeEru l1.AAnN


 Franz Joseph haydn, the Famous Old Man of 4nuSic, was for many yetIi ,lrIor to his deaLh known to eyeryDouy d.
 rapa hayun. For more than seVNuty years the name and fame of Hayan was on the lips of all Ausu1ans. They nlarVeIlelI at his talent as a boy of seven, and when he died at the age Of seventy-seVen he had accomplished more for the music oi his nation than any other who has since followed hi III.
 Haydn's farents were poor but indusurt- oas people. Both his parents were fond of music and both sang. The little Joseph began to sing their simple songs. Hay ing seen the sehoolmaster play the vio- lin, he would sit on the stove bench and accompany his parents as they sang, pre- cisely initiating the schoolmaster hand ling of the bow, and keeping strict time with two pieces of wood as his instru- ment.
 Late in life Haydn, when speaking in his modest way of his own talens and in- dustry, added Almighty God to Whom render thanks for all His unnunneereu mercies, gave me such facility in music, that by the time I was six 1 stood uf1 like man and sang masses in the church choir and could play on the clavier and the violin.
 The two works of Haydns Jld age and by at least one of which he is best known were his oratorios. The Creation" and The Seasons" He was close to seventy years of age when these two master sieces were given to the public. Shortly before Haydn's departure from London in 179 he was offered LidIey's compilation of Miltons 'Paradist Lost" He took it to Vienna and when van Swieten suggested his composing an oratorio, he handed the latter the poem. Van Swieten translated it with considerable alterations and Haydn set to work with great ardor
 Never was I So pious," he says, "as when composing The Creation,' I knelt down every day and prayed God to strengthen me in my work When tn work was completed 1t was given at the National theatre and the composer was handed the entire receipts of the perform ance, amounting to more than S160O The whole audience it was said was deeply moved and Haydn confessed that he could not describe his sensations. 'One mo- ment," he said. T was as cold as ice the next I seemed to be on fire More than once I was afraid I should have a stroke. 9 He followed the Creation by comDos- ing the music to Thon1son's Seasons. The strain, however was too great. as he often said afterwards "The Seasons. rave
  26, 1909, he conducted his Seven Words. for a hospital fund
 His works composed after the Seasons" are very few, the chief being some vocq ouartettes on which he set a high value. When past seventy he conDosed music for many Scotch and Welsh airs His. las years were passed in continual strup- gle with the inffrmities of age. When in 9 hanpy mood he would unlock his cabinet and exhibit to his intimate friends the. sou venirs of all kinds which it contained Haydn's last appearance in l77tbIic was l at remarkable performance of his Gre atien." at the University on March 27 1908, when he was seventy-six Durinn ! the performance he became very much ex cited and it was thoreht advisable to take | him home after the first part As he wae carried out people of the highest rank thronged to take leave of him and Reet- ! hoven fervently kissed his hand and fore head.
 On May 26 1909, Haydn called all his 1 servants to him for the last time and 1 having been carried to the piano. he sol emnly played the "Emperor's Hymn three times over. Five days later. at 1 o'clock in the morning. he expired. As soon as his death was known funeral ser vices were held in all the principal cities of Europe, a tribute such as had never before been paid to a composer,