Haydn Studies

"One of the central concerns of HAYDN STUDIES is why Haydn's music (or large parts of it) has been regarded with such condescension by so many critics. Haydn is, of course, universally recognized as a "great" composer, but such recognition has often been more polite than heartfelt. Indeed, Haydn has frequently been portrayed as a lightweight, particularly when compared to Mozart or Beethoven. In the opening essay, Leon Botstein explores the reasons for this tepid reception and suggests that it can be traced to some important attitudes that emerged in the middle of the nineteenth century. In a richly textured survey of intellectual history, Botstein offers intriguing explanations for why Haydn's music fell from favour and why his reputation, unlike that of Mozart or Beethoven, has never completely recovered.Sutcliffe, W. Dean is the author of 'Haydn Studies' with ISBN 9780521580526 and ISBN 0521580528.