# Michael Haydn

> Austrian composer, brother of Joseph Haydn, (1737-1806)

**Wikidata**: [Q490381](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q490381)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Haydn)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/michael-haydn

## Summary
Michael Haydn was an Austrian composer and organist born in 1737, best known as the younger brother of the famous composer Joseph Haydn. He spent his career within the Habsburg monarchy, producing a significant body of work including symphonies and operas until his death in 1806. His legacy is defined by his contributions to classical music forms and his long-standing service as a musician in Salzburg.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 14, 1737 (Place not specified in source material)
- **Nationality**: Austrian (Citizenship: Habsburg monarchy)
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Composing symphonies, operas, and serving as an organist; being the brother of Joseph Haydn
- **Employer(s)**: Affiliated with the Habsburg monarchy; active in Salzburg (implied by burial and aliases)
- **Field(s)**: Composer, Organist, Musician

## Contributions
Michael Haydn's primary contributions lie in the composition of classical music forms, specifically symphonies and operas, which were established art forms during his lifetime.
- **Symphonies**: He authored multiple extended musical compositions within the symphony genre (inception ~1600), contributing to the repertoire of the era.
- **Operas**: He composed works in the opera artform, combining sung text and musical scores for theatrical settings.
- **Organ Music**: As a professional organist, he performed and likely composed for the organ, a role central to his musical identity.
- **Notable Works**: Specific works are identified by reference numbers Q226235, Q226927, and Q25695, though titles are not explicitly listed in the provided text.
- **Work Period**: His professional career began around 1757 and continued until his death in 1806.

## FAQs
**Who was Michael Haydn in relation to other famous composers?**
Michael Haydn was the brother of Joseph Haydn, a relationship that often defines his historical introduction. He was an Austrian composer in his own right, distinct from his brother but sharing a similar era and nationality.

**What types of music did Michael Haydn create?**
He was a versatile creator who worked in the genres of symphony and opera. Additionally, his role as an organist indicates a significant focus on keyboard and liturgical music.

**When and where did Michael Haydn live and work?**
He was born in September 1737 and died on August 10, 1806. He was a citizen of the Habsburg monarchy and is closely associated with Salzburg, where he is buried.

**How is Michael Haydn identified in academic and library databases?**
He is cataloged under numerous identifiers, including the GND number 115657754 and the ISNI 0000000109160930. He is also listed under aliases such as "Johann Michael Haydn" and "Salzburger Haydn."

## Why They Matter
Michael Haydn matters because he was a prolific figure in the Classical era who helped sustain and expand the symphonic and operatic traditions of the Habsburg monarchy. His work provided a bridge between the early classical style and the later developments of the period, influencing the musical landscape of Austria. Without his contributions as both a composer and an organist, the repertoire of 18th-century sacred and secular music would be significantly diminished. His enduring presence in library catalogs and music databases underscores his lasting impact on musicology and performance history.

## Notable For
- **Family Connection**: Being the brother of the renowned composer Joseph Haydn.
- **Longevity**: A career spanning nearly 50 years, from 1757 to 1806.
- **Dual Role**: Serving successfully as both a composer and an organist.
- **Geographic Association**: Strong ties to Salzburg, evidenced by his burial in the Petersfriedhof Crypt 54.
- **Extensive Catalog**: Possession of numerous unique identifiers across global library systems (e.g., LNB, VTL, NCF).
- **Genre Mastery**: Active contribution to both the symphony and opera genres.
- **Aliases**: Recognized historically as "Johann Michael Haydn" and "Salzburger Haydn."

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Michael Haydn was a human member of the genus Homo sapiens, born on September 14, 1737. He was a citizen of the Habsburg monarchy, a European monarchy that existed from 1282 to 1918. His primary identity was that of an Austrian composer and organist. He is frequently referred to by the aliases "Johann Michael Haydn" and "Salzburger Haydn." His life dates are recorded as 1737 to 1806, with his death occurring on August 10, 1806.

### Career and Professional Roles
Michael Haydn worked as a musician who played any type of organ, a role that defined much of his professional life. He was an author of music in any form, specifically focusing on the composition of symphonies and operas. His professional work period began in 1757 and continued until his death. He was affiliated with the Habsburg monarchy, which served as the political and cultural context for his employment. His work contributed to the artform of opera, which combines sung text and musical score in a theatrical setting, and the symphony, an extended musical composition.

### Notable Works and Genres
His creative output included works classified under the genres of symphony and opera. Specific notable works are referenced by the identifiers Q226235, Q226927, and Q25695. These works represent his contribution to the extended musical composition tradition and the theatrical artform of opera. The inception of the symphony genre is noted around 1600, as is the inception of opera, placing his work firmly within the established traditions of these forms.

### Legacy and Identification
Michael Haydn is extensively documented in academic and library systems. He is identified by the GND number 115657754 and the ISNI 0000000109160930. His name appears in the Wikidata entry Q641055 and is linked to the Wikipedia title "Michael Haydn." He is buried in the Crypt 54 of the Petersfriedhof in Salzburg, a location documented by the image DSC01378 Crypt 54 (Petersfriedhof Salzburg) Kommunegruft.jpg. His digital presence includes a signature file (Michael Haydn signature.svg) and a portrait (Michaelhaydn1.jpg).

### Database and Archival Presence
The scope of his archival footprint is vast, with identifiers spanning multiple international systems. These include the Library of Congress Control Number (n79124588), the National Library of France (13895054z), and the National Library of the Czech Republic (jn20000602841). He is cataloged in the British Library, the National Library of Israel, and numerous other institutions, with identifiers such as 000061089, 9810616198905606, and 79836. His work is also indexed in music-specific databases like MusicBrainz (760357b4-37da-4271-8cb7-52786d335744) and Discogs (260420).

### Cultural Impact and Recognition
Michael Haydn's influence is preserved through his inclusion in the category "Haydn, Michael" and his association with the Freebase ID /m/014t6l. His legacy is further cemented by the existence of audio files, such as the recording "De-Johann Michael Haydn.oga." The sheer number of sitelinks (41) and the variety of identifiers (over 100 unique codes) demonstrate the high level of scholarly interest and archival preservation dedicated to his life and work. He remains a distinct figure in the history of the Habsburg monarchy's cultural output.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Haydn, Johann Michael (BLKÖ)
3. BnF authorities
4. Brief Biographical Dictionary of Foreign Composers
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Source](https://www.haydnbio.org/biografie.html)
8. SNAC
9. Find a Grave
10. International Music Score Library Project
11. Salzburgwiki
12. Musicalics
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. IdRef
16. CONOR.SI
17. Autoritats UB
18. BBC Things
19. LIBRIS. 2012
20. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute
21. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
22. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno
23. HMML Authority File