Active Years: 1732-1809

Position: Distinguished Austrian composer.

Career Highlights: Farewell Symphony (subtitled the Michael Jordan theme song), Surprise Symphony, (also subtitled the Michael Jordan theme song), Emperor String Quartet, and Creation Oratorio.

Career Totals: Over 1000 works, including 125 or so symphonies, 77 or so quartets, several operas, approximately 53 keyboard sonatas, and hundreds of songs.

Scouting Report: The definition of the clubhouse jokester, Haydn was loved by all, and incorporated jokes and surprises into many of his works, often designed to scare or fool the audience. He was also a supremely talented composer, who along with Mozart developed what is now known as the “Classical” style. Haydn spent most of his early career under the patronage of Prince Esterhazy, composing whatever music for whatever occasion the prince desired. As the prince was a avid admirer of music and presented many concerts, Haydn was obligated to compose an immense amount of music, (see Career Totals). But even with the vast amount he composed, his music is always fresh and new, often using different techniques for taking advantage of a particular instrument.

Teammates and Contemporaries: Haydn was a contemporary of Mozart and a teacher of Beethoven, once again proving that the Germans were the team to beat in the 1700’s.

Fun Statistic: Mozart, in the inscription of his ten celebrated quartets, wrote that it was from Haydn that he learned the art of quartet writing, a high compliment from the greatest composer of all time.