Living at the time, 1732-1809, when the ground work for the architectural plan of the symphony and the instrumentation of the orchestra was well along, Haydn brought both to a state of perfection and has been a model ever since. His music has wide appeal partly because he knew how to compose but largely because he was a man of spiritual depth and serenity; he was an active and sociable man and one that loved humor. He had the common touch.