Joseph Haydn

Haydn spent thirty years employed by one family with an orchestra at his disposal, and used it to work out what the symphony and the string quartet could be. He wrote over a hundred of the former and nearly seventy of the latter.

For pianists the sonatas are the most underrated teaching repertoire there is — comparable in difficulty to Mozart's, more varied, and far less played. For string players the quartets are where the form was invented, and the early sets are approachable by good amateurs.

Numbering is a problem. Haydn's works are catalogued by Hob. number, but sonatas also carry a separate numbering from Landon, so the same piece appears under two different numbers depending on the edition. Where possible, confirm by key and Hob. number together.