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As there will be something to say about the terms and nature of
Haydn's engagement with Prince Paul Anton, it may be well to
quote the text of the agreement which he was required to sign. It
was in these terms:
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FORM OF AGREEMENT
AND
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VICE-CAPELLMEISTER
"This day (according to the date hereto appended) Joseph Heyden
[sic] native of Rohrau, in Austria, is accepted and appointed
Vice-Capellmeister in the service of his Serene Highness, Paul
Anton, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, of Esterhazy and
Galantha, etc., etc., with the conditions here following:
"1st. Seeing that the Capellmeister at Eisenstadt, by name
Gregorius Werner, having devoted many years of true and faithful
service to the princely house, is now, on account of his great
age and infirmities, unfit to perform the duties incumbent on
him, therefore the said Gregorious Werner, in consideration of
his long services, shall retain the post of Capellmeister, and
the said Joseph Heyden as Vice-Capellmeister shall, as far as
regards the music of the choir, be subordinate to the
Capellmeister and receive his instructions. But in everything
else relating to musical performances, and in all that concerns
the orchestra, the Vice-Capellmeister shall have the sole
direction.
"2nd. The said Joseph Heyden shall be considered and treated as a
member of the household. Therefore his Serene Highness is
graciously pleased to place confidence in his conducting himself
as becomes an honourable official of a princely house. He must be
temperate, not showing himself overbearing towards his musicians,
but mild and lenient, straightforward and composed. It is
especially to be observed that when the orchestra shall be
summoned to perform before company, the Vice-Capellmeister and
all the musicians shall appear in uniform, and the said Joseph
Heyden shall take care that he and all members of his orchestra
do follow the instructions given, and appear in white stockings,
white linen, powdered, and either with a pig-tail or a tie-wig.
"3rd. Seeing that the other musicians are referred for directions
to the said Vice-Capellmeister, therefore he should take the more
care to conduct himself in an exemplary manner, abstaining from
undue familiarity, and from vulgarity in eating, drinking and
conversation, not dispensing with the respect due to him, but
acting uprightly and influencing his subordinates to preserve
such harmony as is becoming in them, remembering how displeasing
the consequences of any discord or dispute would be to his Serene
Highness.
"4th. The said Vice-Capellmeister shall be under an obligation to
compose such music as his Serene Highness may command, and
neither to communicate such compositions to any other person, nor
to allow them to be copied, but to retain them for the absolute
use of his Highness, and not to compose anything for any other
person without the knowledge and permission of his Highness.
"5th. The said Joseph Heyden shall appear in the ante-chamber
daily, before and after mid-day, and inquire whether his Highness
is pleased to order a performance of the orchestra. After receipt
of his orders be shall communicate them to the other musicians
and shall take care to be punctual at the appointed time, and to
ensure punctuality in his subordinates, making a note of those
who arrive late or absent themselves altogether.
"6th. Should any quarrel or cause of complaint arise, the
Vice-Capellmeister shall endeavour to arrange it, in order that
his Serene Highness may not be incommoded with trifling disputes;
but should any more serious difficulty occur, which the said
Joseph Heyden is unable to set right, his Serene Highness must
then be respectfully called upon to decide the matter.
"7th. The said Vice-Capellmeister shall take careful charge of
all music and musical instruments, and shall be responsible for
any injury that may occur to them from carelessness or neglect.
"8th. The said Joseph Heyden shall be obliged to instruct the
female vocalists, in order that they may not forget in the
country what they had been taught with much trouble and expense
in Vienna, and, as the said Vice-Capellmeister is proficient on
various instruments, he shall take care to practice himself on
all that he is acquainted with.
"9th. A copy of this agreement and instructions shall be given to
the said Vice-Capellmeister and to his subordinates, in order
that he may be able to hold them to their obligations therein
laid down.
"10th. It is considered unnecessary to detail the services required
of the said Joseph Heyden more particularly, since his Serene
Highness is pleased to hope that he will of his own free will
strictly observe not only these regulations, but all others that may
from time to time be made by his Highness, and that he will place
the orchestra on such a footing, and in such good order, that he
may bring honour upon himself, and deserve the further favour of the
Prince, his master, who thus confides in his zeal and discretion.
"11th. A salary of four hundred florins to be received quarterly
is hereby bestowed upon the said Vice-Capellmeister by his Serene
Highness.
"12th. In addition, the said Joseph Heyden shall have board at
the officers' table, or half a gulden a day in lieu thereof.
"13th. Finally, this agreement shall hold good for at least three
years from May 1st, 1761, with the further condition that if at
the conclusion of this term the said Joseph Heyden shall desire
to leave the service, he shall notify his intention to his
Highness half-a-year beforehand.
"14th. His Serene Highness undertakes to keep Joseph Heyden in
his service during this time, and should he be satisfied with
him, he may look forward to being appointed Capellmeister. This,
however, must not be understood to deprive his Serene Highness of
the freedom to dismiss the said Joseph Heyden at the expiration
of the term, should he see fit to do so.
"Duplicate copies of this document shall be executed and
exchanged.
"Given at Vienna this 1st day of May 1761,
"Ad mandatum Celsissimi Principis.
"JOHANN STIFFTELL, Secretary."
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