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 Music Day Issue of 2009: Georg Friedrich Handel (Scott 1427) Franz Joseph Haydn (Scott 1428) Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (Scott 1429) On October 24, 2009, Vatican City issued a three-stamp set under the title “Music Day”. One in a continuing series of sets honoring great musicians and composers, this set recognizes George Frideric Handel, Franz Joseph Haydn and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, in the German town of Halle. He is well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. After training in Halle, he worked as a composer in both Germany and Italy before settling in London in 1712 (he eventually became a British citizen). Handel's music is said to form one of the peaks of the "high Baroque" style, and he is consistently recognized as one of the greatest composers of the Classical age. Over a span of more than thirty years, he composed more than forty works, with perhaps his best-known work being his Messiah (which includes the famed Hallelujah Chorus). He died in London on April 14, 1759. Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732, in Rohrau, Austria. A contemporary of Handel during the Classical period, he was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have led him to be called the "Father of the Symphony" and the "Father of the String Quartet". He spent much of his career as a court musician for the Hungarian noble Esterházy family, which somewhat isolated him from other composers and musical trends. However, his music circulated widely, and he was perhaps the most celebrated composer of his day in Europe. Among his proteges were Mozart and Beethoven, as well as his elder brother, the composer Michael Haydn. He died on May 31, 1809, in Vienna. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was born on February 3, 1809, in Hamburg. As a composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period, his compositions include symphonies, concertos, piano music, organ music and chamber music. Perhaps his best-known work is the overture for A Midsummer Night's Dream, which he composed at age 17. He also wrote the melody for the Christmas carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, among many other works. His style was a bit more conservative than that of his contemporaries (such as Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner) and his works fell into disfavor in the late 19th and early 20th century. However, a revival of interest in Mendelssohn’s works has made him one of the most popular composers of the Romantic era. He died at the young age of 38 on November 4, 1847. REFERENCES: |
