Joseph Haydn is rightly regarded as a composer of epochal significance: not only did he set standards in the fields of symphonic and chamber music, but his oratorios are also considered outstanding contributions to the genre. In his now-standard monograph, Karl Geiringer examines both Haydn's life and work. This makes it appealing not only to lovers of Haydn's music but also to readers interested in music history in general. For the newly revised edition, which includes an updated bibliography, Armin Raab, a recognized Haydn specialist, wrote the foreword. Karl Geiringer (1899-1989) studied musicology in Vienna and Berlin. He earned his doctorate in 1923. From 1940 to 1962, he was a professor at Boston University, and then he taught at the University of California until 1972. He published numerous works, including biographies of Johann Sebastian Bach, the Bach family, and Brahms. He was a recipient of the Cross of Honour.