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Table of Contents
Joseph Haydn
Birth And Death
Haydn was born in the same year as George Washington (1732) and died in the same year as Abraham Lincoln (1809). 1)
Voice
When he was five years old, the young Haydn's singing voice was so good that he was invited to enter the Choir School of St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.2)
Left The Choir
However, things changed for Haydn when he lost his angelic voice at the age of 16; he quit the choir when his voice was characterized as “that lad doesn't sing, he crows!” by Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa: “That child doesn't sing, he crows!” Haydn then cut another young chorister's ponytail and was publicly caned. 3)
Prankster
The choirmaster of St Stephen's Cathedral advised that Haydn have a particular procedure to keep his voice from cracking, but his father intervened and prevented this from occurring.4)
Symphony No.96
The premiere of Haydn's Symphony No. 96 was memorable not only for being another excellent Haydn symphony, but also for a massive chandelier falling from the ceiling during the performance. The symphony was dubbed the “Miracle” Symphony since no one was hurt during the performance. 5)
Nasal Polyps
Haydn suffered from nasal polyps throughout his life, which caused his nose to seem bulbous and deformed. It grew so unpleasant at times that he couldn't compose. He also survived a childhood episode with smallpox. 6)