Mozart and Haydn

Two of history's greatest figures in the development of Classical style music during the eighteenth century were Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn. Both men worked together and were very close friends while living in Vienna. Between the two, Joseph Hayden and Amadeus Mozart devoted much of their music for composing symphonies, minuets, librettos, sonatas, concertos, masses, oratorios and operas. While both men achieved popularity and status during their time, they also discovered that success must be earned rather than freely given. While both men enjoyed similar success during their lives, their character and personal lives contrast one another as one developed a haughty spirit and died penniless after enjoying a life of fame and the other lived peacefully with all men and died wealthy while serving others.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756. According to Boerner, not much is known about Mozart's early years other than being born into a musical family and learning music at a young age. Mozart displayed great musical ability and became known as a musical prodigy. Young Amadeus displayed his musical gift as he developed his first musical composition called Andante in C within a thirty minute timeframe as he was about to turn five years old. While Mozart's musical gifting developed, his father, neglecting his duties as vice-Kapellmeister, focused on Amadeus' musical ability, leading him to take young Amadeus on tour around Europe. As this developed, touring increased and Amadeus' fame began to spread while many anxiously waited to hear the young maestro's music. Many were amazed at his remarkable skills as he went on tour in Paris and London and visited many courts along the way. Throughout his life, Mozart composed many musical pieces that were greatly admired. Amadeus composed over 600 sonatas, concertos, minuets, librettos, serenades, oratorios, cantatas, operas and symphonies, and is one of the most