Brotherly Influence: Michael Haydn was the younger brother of Joseph Haydn, one of the most celebrated composers of the Classical era. Despite being less famous, Michael’s works were highly regarded by his contemporaries, including Mozart and Schubert, who admired his compositional style.

1. Prolific Sacred Composer: Michael Haydn composed a substantial amount of sacred music, including over 40 masses, numerous motets, and other liturgical works. His sacred compositions were well-received and widely performed in his time, contributing significantly to church music.

2. Long Tenure in Salzburg: Michael Haydn spent much of his professional life in Salzburg, where he served as the court composer and concertmaster. He worked closely with Leopold Mozart and influenced the musical education of the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

3. Mentor to Carl Maria von Weber: Among Michael Haydn’s students was Carl Maria von Weber, who went on to become a leading figure in the development of Romantic opera. Haydn’s teaching had a lasting impact on Weber's musical career.

4. Symphonic Contributions: Michael Haydn composed over 40 symphonies, which are praised for their melodic beauty and formal innovation. His symphonic works, though not as well-known as his brother Joseph’s, played a vital role in the evolution of the symphony during the Classical period.