Haydn, (Johann) Michael (1737–1806)

Austrian composer, brother of Joseph Haydn. As well as a great deal of church music, including over 30 Masses, he also wrote about 40 symphonies, some chamber music, and an opera.

He was a chorister at St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna under Reutter from about 1745. In 1757 he was appointed Kapellmeister to the Archbishop of Grosswardein, Hungary, became Konzertmeister to the Archbishop of Salzburg in 1762, and was cathedral organist there from 1781. Apart from occasional visits to Vienna, he remained in Salzburg till his death, in 1801 refusing the post of vice-Kapellmeister (under his brother Joseph) to Prince Esterházy.

Works Church music 32 Masses including Missa Hispanica (1786); two Requiem Masses, including C minor Requiem, for Archbishop Sigismund (1771), which influenced Mozart's Requiem; eight German Masses; six Te Deum settings; 117 Graduals; 45 Offertories; 27 Holy Week Responsories; and other pieces.

Stage opera Andromeda e Perseo (1787); German Singspiele, and other music for the stage.

Choral oratorios; cantatas.

Orchestral 46 symphonies including one with a slow introduction by Mozart (K444: Mozart's ‘37th’ symphony); five concertos.

Chamber and instrumental six string quintets; 11 string quartets; keyboard music.