Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant

Great Musicians

by Opal Wheeler, Sybil Deucher

This is a simple, inspiring children's biography of the great musician Haydn. This story, like all the stories of the great composers by Wheeler and Deucher, will win its way into the hearts of all music-loving children; for it, too, is told with all the understanding, sympathy and appreciation that its two inspired authors have to give. "Little Sepperl [as the child Franz Joseph Haydn was called] always sat on a wooden stool near his father and with two smooth pieces of wood held firmly in his hands, played his own make-believe violin. His parents watched the boy drawing one stick slowly across the other as he played so seriously, keeping perfect time." Then one day he went to live with his cousin in a town near Vienna, close by the river Danube. There he learned to read music and sing. Once when the drummer was too sick to march in a procession, little Franz Joseph was asked to take his place. So he practiced all day on the meal barrel with a cloth tied over the top...until he could play the part without a single mistake. Such was the musical beginning of the boy who later played before kings in palaces, and who has left us some of the most beautiful music ever written. For boys and girls, from 8 to 12 years of age, this book is particularly recommended. It has the great value of being instructive, cultural and inspiring, as well as recreational.

Genres: Music, Biography, History, Childrens

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). This was my first musician biography, I think, and it's always had a large part of my heart. While it's simple, I love the many details and it made me love Haydn (though I still can't spell his name). I love the illustrations, and the many anecdotes (the scissors incident lives rent-free in my head), and I just had to reread a book that I feel really inspired my writing. 💙

[Isabella Leake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was delightful, our second Opal Wheeler biography, after Bach, so inevitably I fall to comparing the two. The most important thing is that my children and I now think of Haydn as a personal acquaintance and even a friend—just as we do Bach—and that we shared several beautiful experiences of listening to his piano, chamber, and orchestral music together.

The writing here seems inferior to the Bach biography—in Haydn there seemed to be some missing transitions and a bumpier narrative—but to compensate, some well-chosen musical selections that were lovely to read about prior to listening. Much of Haydn's best-known music has an entertaining backstory (especially his symphonies: the Farewell, the Surprise, the Clock, the Toy, the Marie Therese, the Oxford), and these stories work beautifully to introduce the music.

Bach's music, by contrast, is often less story-worthy, or perhaps the stories, apart from the compiling of the Anna Magdalena notebook, just aren't as immediately appealing to children. We did listen to the pieces mentioned in Bach, but the selections didn't encompass all the "big hits," the highlights of his oeuvre, as they did in Haydn. Where was Brandenburg, the cello suites, the St. Matthew Passion? Perhaps we have a different sense of the Bach canon than we did in 1930. Or perhaps Opal Wheeler was more intent on incorporating strictly piano music in Bach, so that young readers could play it, than in Haydn.

Whatever the reason, I was pleasantly surprised to find ourselves listening to so much of what is most noteworthy in Haydn's oeuvre, and that made me enjoy this book almost as much as the Bach biography, despite the uneven narrative and the fact that Haydn, delightful as the man is, just isn't Bach.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opal Wheeler writes delightful biographies for the child transitioning from listening to picture books to family read-alouds!

Wheeler’s style flows nicely, is engaging and is easy to understand. The book focuses primarily on the early, childhood and young adult years of the composer. Almost every single page spread has a picture which helps with attention and imagination. Included are excerpts from the composer’s works that can be played or sung for additional learning and for familiarization with the classics.

Definitely a good series of books to add to your home library!

Ages: 5 - 10

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Jamie Gottlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is (an intro to Haydn for children) it was very good. I casually started reading it and found it interesting enough I finished it. I particularly enjoyed that it included parts of his songs in the book that a pianist could play. I would say it is best for mid to upper elementary.

[Lisa Okeefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little book. I had a lot of trouble finding any other good sources for our family to learn about him, and I am curious how accurate it is. Someof the details seem a little mythical, so I will need to do more research.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard of Opal Wheeler's books for a long time and finally ordered one. I'm so glad! I loved how we not only got aquainted with "Papa" Hayden but also learned the stories behind his music. I feel like we established a lasting connection with the man and the music. Can't wait to read Mozart!