Vanhal, who was a pupil of Dittersdorf, was renowned for being one of the premier composers of symphonic music in his time. Despite being widely popular during his era, Vanhal's music eventually lost favor over time, just like other composers. During a span of one or two years, Vanhal had some sort of nervous breakdown, and there is speculation that he never fully recuperated. One can detect elements of his condition in his compositions, such as the preponderance of minor keys and dissonant chromatic "sighing" motifs. One of his symphonies in G minor is rated among those of Haydn and Mozart in the same key. Later in his life, Vanhal veered towards creating less serious, less weighty pieces for hobbyist performers, mainly keyboard variations.
