(March 31, 1732–May 31, 1809), was an Austrian musical composer. He was considered the first master of the symphony, setting an example which Mozart and Beethoven later followed. He developed the string choir which has become the backbone of the modern orchestra. His works include 104 symphonies, 83 quartets, 42 sonatas, 24 concertos, 14 operas, 8 oratorios as well as the Austrian national anthem. His musical scores were replete with such phrases as “In nomine Domini,” “Soli Deo Gloria,” or “Laus Deo.” Franz Joseph Haydn declared:
When I think of my God, my heart dances within me for joy, and then my music has to dance, too.1011
When asked by Emperor Franz which of his oratorios he preferred, he replied:
“The Creation! … because in The Creation angels speak, and their talk is of God. … I was never so pious as during the time that I worked on The Creation. Daily I fell on my knees, and begged God to vouchsafe to me strength for the fortunate outcome of the work.”1012
Haydn’s last public appearance was on March 27, 1808, when the Society of Amateurs in Vienna, Austria, performed The Creation oratorio. When the performance produced a thunderous applause by the audience, Haydn pointed up and exclaimed:
It came from above!1013