(Franz) Joseph Haydn (31 March or 1 April 1732–31 May 1809) was a leading composer of the classical period, called the “Father of the symphony” and “Father of the string quartet”. The name “Franz” was not used in the composer’s lifetime; scholars, along with an increasing number of music publishers and recording companies, now use the historically more accurate form of his name, rendered in English as “Joseph Haydn”.
