Stapert presents a listener's guide to Austrian composer Hayden (1732-1809) that includes a broad survey of his huge and diverse output, general descriptions or characterizations of pieces or repertoires, and detailed analyses of a few pieces or parts of them. The form is a biography that touches on such matters as choirboy at St. Stephans Cathedral in Vienna during the 1740s, kapellmeister at Eszterh̀za Palace and composer of church music 1768-72, symphonies and sonatas during the peak opera years 1773-81, life in London and a return to Vienna 1791-93, and music for troubled times. Annotation 2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
