The Development of the Orchestra

    Stamitz (1717-1757) directed a famous orchestra at Mannheim and wrote a number of symphonies for it.  But although the orchestral and symphonic traditions he established affected the work of Haydn, and even more of Mozart, his music was not the work of a genius, and Haydn's Symphonies are the earliest that are still regularly heard today.  

    The same Weinzierl visit which gave Haydn the opportunity to write his first string quartet also made it possible for him to experiment with larger groups when they happened to be available: for example, there were two hom players among his host's huntsmen.  He wrote a number of slight works, in several movements, which he indiscriminately called divertimenti, cessations or symphonies, often for oboes, homs and strings.  At first the style was very simple, and not clearly differentiated from chamber music.  

    The greatest step forward, however, took place when Haydn was appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Esterhazy at Eisenstadt.  Here he was gradually able to increase the size of the orchestra and to have daily rehearsals.  The Prince soon built a large palace, "Esterhaz", which rivaled Versailles, and had two theatres attached.  It was in the heart of the country, so there were no distractions, and Haydn devoted all his attention to composing and conducting music for his patron, and discovering the best way of writing for an orchestra.  He began to be conscious of the tone qualities of the different instruments, and of the possibilities of using them for providing contrast.  Hearing the young Mozart's symphonies, with their greater delicacy and variety of tone color, also affected Haydn's later symphonies. (See "The Symphonies of Haydn and Mozart" on pp. 24 and 26.

    Mozart's first attempts at orchestral writing owed much to Haydn's, and both used the clarinet later, when it became possible to get players.  Beethoven and Schubert began to use trombones occasionally, even in their symphonies.  But fundamentally the essential features of orchestral writing were laid down by Haydn, and formed the basis for all nineteenth century orchestral composition.