Joseph Haydn defined one of the most important periods in the history of music — the Classical period — and influenced generations of composers to come. In this course, you will get well acquainted with some of the greatest works written in Vienna — the music center of the 18th century.

This course explores the unique style and aesthetics of Joseph Haydn's music, and what makes him one of the most loved and well-known composers of the Classical era. Through deep analysis of some of Joseph Haydn’s greatest works, we will explore his contribution to the development and evolution of music elements that construct a Classical composition work, such as texture, melody, form, harmony, key/scale, orchestration, instrumentation and more.

We will closely examine some of Joseph Haydn’s more important works and get to know two of the most leading musical forms of the Classical period; the Rondo form, and the Sonata form. Through analysis of Haydn’s works, we will also discuss the leading genres of his time including the Symphony and the String Quartet. Following these discussions, you will have a better appreciation of why Joseph Haydn was considered the ‘Father of Symphony’, the ‘Father of the String Quartet’, and the ‘Father of musical jokes’.

By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of what makes Joseph Haydn, alongside Wolfgang Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the three most important composers of the Classical period, and his significant contribution to the development of musical elements and aesthetics that helped define Classic music during the 18th Century.