HAYDN JOSEPH: (1732-1809) Austrian composer of the Classical period. A fine and rare printed ...

HAYDN JOSEPH: (1732-1809) Austrian composer of the Classical period. A fine and rare printed musical score signed by Haydn, being the first British edition of Ariana a Naxos, Cantata a Voce Sola, accompagnata col Clavicembalo Forte-Piano, published by John Bland, London, n.d. (June 1791), the oblong folio score of eighteen pages ´printed for the Author & sold by him at No. 18 Great Pulteney Street, & at J. Blands Music Warehouse, 45 Holborn´. Signed (´Haydn´, with paraph manu propria) by the composer at the foot of the title page, which also bears the ownership signature of a Mrs. Rigby in the blank left margin. Handsomely and professionally bound in dark green cloth and quarter-morocco and with a gilt stamped title and four raised bands to the spine. Some very minor, light staining throughout, generally VG

Haydn´s Arianna a Naxos (Hoboken Catalogue XXVIb:2), a composition for soprano and keyboard, was first performed in London by the mezzo-soprano castrato Gaspare Pacchierotti (1740-1821) in 1791 to the composer´s own piano accompaniment.

The London engraver, printer, music seller and publisher John Bland first met Joseph Haydn during a visit to Vienna in November 1789 whilst in search of new works for publication. Legend has it that Bland, whilst in the company of Haydn during his grooming routine, overheard the composer complaining about his razors, Haydn declaring ´I would give my best quartet for a good razor!´ Bland subsequently hurried back to his quarters, quickly retrieved his new razors, made of fine English steel, and presented them to Haydn. The composer kept his word and in exchange presented Bland with the manuscript of his Quartet No. 46 in F Minor (Op. 55, No. 2; Hoboken Catalogue III:61) which is still known today as the ´Razor´ Quartet.

This first encounter between Haydn and Bland led to what would become a long friendship as well as a profitable business relationship. Bland was instrumental in bringing Haydn to London and the composer stayed with his friend at Bland´s home on his first night in the city in January 1791, marking the beginning of what would prove to be a triumphant trip for Haydn. Audiences flocked to his concerts and as a result Haydn augmented his fame and became financially secure. Indeed, Haydn considered his two visits to London, in 1791-92 and 1794-95, as being the happiest days of his life.

Haydn was a friend and mentor to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who he met around 1784. The two composers performed in string quartets together and Haydn, impressed with Mozart´s work, praised him unreservedly. For his part, Mozart returned the esteem and dedicated a set of six quartets to him, the ´Haydn´ Quartets (1785).