JOSEPH WALKS - Fred G. Pisecki, virtual clavichord and organ sample sets

... on Haydn traces through Eisenstadt (Burgenland, Austria)

CONTENT:

00:00 INTRODUCTION

01 THE ESTERHAZY PALACE 00:18
00:58 Scherzo in F Major Hob.XVI:9 (1)
03:51 from "Floetenuhr 1793" Allegretto Hob.XIX:27 (2)

02 THE ESTERHAZY PALACE PARK 05:52
06:07 Symphony No.94 in G Major Hob.I:94 "Surprise" Part 2 Andante in C (3)

03 THE ST. MARTINS CATHEDRAL 08:40
08:57 Notturno No.4 in C Major Part 2 Adagio in F Hob.II:31 (4)

04 THE FRANCISCAN CHURCH 11:46
12:14 from "Floetenuhr 1793" Allegro Hob.XIX:15 Prib chamber organ (5)

05 THE HOSPITAL CHURCH (SPITALKIRCHE) 13:48
14:14 from "Floetenuhr 1792" Andante Hob.XIX:10 St. Maria Nordheim (6)

06 THE HAYDN CHURCH (BERGKIRCHE) 15:29
16:14 Divertimento in B-flat major Hob.II:46 Part 2 Andante "Saint Anthony Chorale" (7)

20:07 TOTAL TIME PLAYING
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Recorded with the following Hauptwerk sample sets:

Harpsichord Marioni (Copy from Ruckers 1612), I = (1)
Pusztaszabolcs, H = (2)
Cembalo Ruckers (replica), CZ = (3)
Obervellach, A = (4)
Prib chamber organ, CZ = (5)
St.Maria Nordheim chest organ, D = (6)
Velesovo, SLO = (7)
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Haydn spent almost 30 years of his life (1761-1790) as Kapellmeister in the service of the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest and most important magnate families in the Kingdom of Hungary, mainly in the princely residence of Eisenstadt about 50 kilometers southeast of Vienna. First with Prince Paul II Anton Esterházy de Galantha (1711-1762), then especially with Nicholas I Joseph Esterházy de Galantha (1714-1790, called "the Magnificent"), both of whom were connoisseurs of music and gave him the space for his artistic development. After the death of Prince Nikolaus Joseph, the chapel was dissolved. Haydn received a pension, sold his Eisenstadt house and moved to Vienna. In 1791 and 1792, also in 1794 and 1795, he made trips to England, where he enjoyed great success. Musical life at the Esterházy court in Eisenstadt experienced a second period of splendor when Prince Anton died after only four years of reign and his eldest son Nicholas II took over the inheritance in 1794. He reinstalled the court orchestra in 1795 and again hired Haydn as Kapellmeister. Haydn, however, retained his residence, which in the meantime had moved to Vienna.

Haydn's famous saying was "my language is understood through the whole world". During a walk through Eisenstadt we will hear some of his works interpreted on keyboard instruments. They are meant to reflect Haydn's inexhaustible resourcefulness in various facets.

Joseph Haydn did not write keyboard music primarily intended for organ. Special miniature organ pieces are Haydn's works and arrangements for the precious automatic miniature organs so popular at the time: "flute clocks," "running gears," "organ rollers," such as Haydn's friend and musician, the Esterhazy librarian in Eisenstadt, Father Joseph Niemecz, masterfully built around 1790 and which are even partially preserved playable today.

Haydn was known for his friendly and optimistic manner. A special characteristic, however, was his ability to incorporate humor into his music. The most famous example of this is the symphony Hob.I:94 - known as the symphony "with the drumbeat", which suddenly startled all dozing spectators after a quiet part. The 2nd movement - the "Andante" - is heard here as an arrangement for organ.

Also heard is an organ arrangement of Haydn's composition for King Ferdinand IV of Naples 1786-90: the Notturno No.4 in C Major. The melody parts were originally intended for "lire organizzate" - which are hurdy-gurdies with rows of small organ pipes. Haydn adapted some of these delicious chamber works for flute and oboe in London.

The most famous movement of Haydn's Divertimento in B flat major, Hob. II:46 is that "Chorale St. Antony" which Johannes Brahms immortalized as the theme of his Haydn Variations. It is possible, however, that the chorale was not written by the composer of the divertimento, since its simplicity was not common in Haydn's music around 1780.
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For further remarks please see the Remarks to "JOSEPH WALKS - EISENSTADT" comment below.