Joseph Haydn

(Franz) Joseph Haydn, (March 31 or April 1 1732 – May 31 1809) was a leading composer of the Classical period, called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet".

Although he

(Franz) Joseph Haydn, (March 31 or April 1 1732 – May 31 1809) was a leading composer of the Classical period, called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet".

Although he is still often called "Franz Joseph Haydn", Haydn himself actually never used "Franz", signing letters and documents as "Josef Haydn". 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".