Johann Michael Haydn
1737 - 1806
Roman Catholic
Biography
Johann Michael Haydn (1737–1806) was an Austrian composer, organist, and church musician, and the younger brother of Joseph Haydn. Born at Rohrau, Austria, he entered the choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna as a boy. In 1757 he became choirmaster at Grosswardein, and in 1762 he moved to Salzburg to serve the prince-archbishop. He later also worked as an organist at St. Peter's and at Salzburg Cathedral.
Haydn wrote extensively for the church as well as for instrumental ensembles. His output included masses, graduals, offertories, litanies, vespers, cantatas, oratorios, symphonies, chamber music, and organ works. Much of his sacred music remained in manuscript during his lifetime. His long Salzburg career placed him within one of the most important Catholic musical centers of the eighteenth century.
In later hymnody, melodies drawn or adapted from music attributed to Haydn were sometimes shaped into congregational tunes. GREENLAND belongs to that tradition: hymnological sources describe it as derived from, or ascribed to, Michael Haydn rather than as a tune he composed specifically for Louis F. Benson's twentieth-century text.
Haydn wrote extensively for the church as well as for instrumental ensembles. His output included masses, graduals, offertories, litanies, vespers, cantatas, oratorios, symphonies, chamber music, and organ works. Much of his sacred music remained in manuscript during his lifetime. His long Salzburg career placed him within one of the most important Catholic musical centers of the eighteenth century.
In later hymnody, melodies drawn or adapted from music attributed to Haydn were sometimes shaped into congregational tunes. GREENLAND belongs to that tradition: hymnological sources describe it as derived from, or ascribed to, Michael Haydn rather than as a tune he composed specifically for Louis F. Benson's twentieth-century text.
Hymns by Johann Michael Haydn
The Light of God Is Falling
Role: Composer