It is time, however, to speak of some of Haydn's compositions
during this period. At Esterhaz he "wrote nearly all his operas,
most of his arias and songs, the music for the marionette
theatre--of which he was particularly fond--and the greater part
of his orchestral and chamber works." The dramatic works bulk
rather largely during the earlier part of the period. In 1769,
for example, when the whole musical establishment of Esterhaz
visited Vienna, a performance of his opera, "Lo Speciale," was
given at the house of Freiherr von Sommerau, and was repeated in
the form of a concert. Other works of the kind were performed at
intervals, particularly on festival occasions, but as most of
them have perished, and all of them are essentially pieces
d'occasion, it is unnecessary even to recall their names. In 1771
Haydn wrote a "Stabat Mater" and a "Salve Regina," and in 1773
followed the Symphony in C which bears the name of the Empress
Maria Theresa, having been written for the empress's visit to
Esterhaz in September of that year. In the course of the visit
Haydn was naturally introduced to Her Majesty, when, as we have
stated, he took occasion to remind her of the "good hiding" she
had ordered him to have at Schonbrunn during the old chorister
days at St Stephen's. "Well, you see, my dear Haydn," was the
reply, "the hiding has borne good fruit."

First Oratorio

In 1775 came his first oratorio, "Il Ritorno di Tobia." This is
an exceedingly interesting work. It was first performed under
Haydn's direction by the Tonkunstler Societat, with solo singers
from Esterbaz, at Vienna, on April 2, 1775. In 1784 Haydn added