Richard's Poor Almanac by Richard Thompson for June 26, 2021

Transcript:

Richard's Poor Almanac by Richard Thompson Franz Joseph Haydn Birthday Fun Page All true! Mostly guaranteed Haydn unwisely married a woman indifferent to music & to him. It didn't last. She reportedly tore up his manuscripts for use as hair curlers. Sweetie, where's my string quartet? Your what? Of Haydn's 104 symphonies, about 30 have nicknames. In #45 the farewell, the musicians exit the stage one by one, until only 2 are left to play the last bit, supposedly, Haydn's boss, Prince Esterhazy, was slow to give his musicians a break from their duties & this pantomime was meant to give him a nudge. Shortly after Haydn's death in 1809, his grave was robbed by two amateur phrenologists. They stole his head (leaving his wig), hoping the skull would provide physical evidence of Haydn's genius. I don't know if it did. Symphonies Piano trios Oratorios After several owners & many adventures, possibly including a stint as a garden ornament, the skull was reunited with the rest of Haydn in 1954.