THE CZECH JOSEPH HAYDN SOCIETY
The ČSJH o.s., Czech Joseph Haydn Society was founded in 1993 as a charitable and non-profit organization. The members have a common interest in Renaissance, Baroque and Classical music, with a special interest in Joseph Haydn.
The society aims for a better appreciation of the European cultural heritage at the time of the formation of "new" Europe. Works by Joseph Haydn and his contemporaries still bring an inexhaustible source of inspiration and joy in the 21st century.
Each September, the Czech Joseph Haydn Society organizes an international music festival based on historical presentation of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music, played on authentic instruments and their copies. The centre of the festival is the village of Dolní Lukavice in the south Pilsen region.
The concerts take place in local churches, chapels, and monasteries.
Organization structure:
- Vladimír Bako – board chairman
- Milan Fiala – head of the festival, board member
- Michaela Freemanová – dramaturgist, board member
- Josef Netrval – board member
- Iva Palová – board member, finances
- David Růžička – promotion, advertising
- Zuzana Zatloukalová – board member
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The ČSJH o.s. is an open society. New members are welcome. Everything is done by volunteers.
Franz Joseph Haydn was born on March 31st 1732 in the town of Rohrau, Lower Austria, to a wheeler family. Joseph´s father Matthias Haydn had passion for music. Joseph´s mother Maria (birth name Koller) worked as a cook for count Harrach. They family had twelve children. Joseph and his brother Johann Michael proved to have exceptional talent for music. Joseph studied music since age of six in the town of Heinburg. Later he studied in Vienna and performed in boy-choir. After few years of free lance musician, he was offered a band-master position by count Morzin. The date was probably 1757. Count Morzin was the owner of chateau Dolní Lukavice. Joseph Haydn wrote there his first symphony. During the years 1761 - 1790 Joseph was in service for duke Esterházy. Haydn grew into one of the most respected musicians of his time.
