All Saints’ Sunday
Greetings!
When Janna and I were living in Bratislava, Slovakia, we would often take the bus across the Danube River, to the first Austrian village named Hainburg where we would do our grocery shopping. The bus stop on the way into town was located directly in front of the statue of the composer Franz Joseph Haydn, and for the return ride, we entered the bus directly in front of the Catholic church where Haydn performed as a young alto in the church’s boys choir. His talents were eventually discovered and he was invited to sing in the Vienna Boys Choir in the imperial court chapel in Vienna. When his voice changed, Haydn studied composition. His talents were soon recognized by the noble, Esterházy family and was selected as the court musician for their place in Eisenstadt. The family’s grand banquet hall was reconstructed to become the Haydn Concert Hall.
When Janna and I were living in Bratislava, Slovakia, we would often take the bus across the Danube River, to the first Austrian village named Hainburg where we would do our grocery shopping. The bus stop on the way into town was located directly in front of the statue of the composer Franz Joseph Haydn, and for the return ride, we entered the bus directly in front of the Catholic church where Haydn performed as a young alto in the church’s boys choir. His talents were eventually discovered and he was invited to sing in the Vienna Boys Choir in the imperial court chapel in Vienna. When his voice changed, Haydn studied composition. His talents were soon recognized by the noble, Esterházy family and was selected as the court musician for their place in Eisenstadt. The family’s grand banquet hall was reconstructed to become the Haydn Concert Hall.
As Haydn’s esteem rose in the eyes of the Esterházy family, so did his popularity as the Father of the String Quartet spread throughout Europe. In 1790, after 40 years of service to the family, the aging patriarch who adored music, died. His heir, who didn’t care much for music, dismissed the majority of court musicians, and no longer required any concerts from Haydn. He soon accepted an invitation to England, as well as Germany where he was inspired by the music of Georg Fredrich Handel and the young Ludwig van Beethoven. He also became reunited with his friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. These new influences gave an energy and freshness to elder Haydn’s works.
On Sunday, November 3rd, the Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church Choir and the Lake String Quartet will perform Haydn’s Little Organ Mass. The central movement of the mass the Benedictus, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord,” features both an organ solo performed by our organist Dr. Kristina Rizzotto and soprano soloist Debra Gilroy. As we remember those who have died since last All Saints Day, and hear their names read and candles in their honor lit, we will be gently comforted by Haydn’s glorious music and the reassuring promise of God’s word that the one who comes in the name of the Lord proclaims the good news of everlasting life.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
