Johann Simon Hermstedt

Johann Simon Hermstedt ( born December 29, 1778 in Long Salza; † August 10, 1846 ) was a clarinet virtuoso in the first half of the 19th century in Germany and had a decisive influence as Kapellmeister to the development of today's Loh -Orchester Sondershausen.

Life

On December 29, 1778 Johann Simon Hermstedt the son of Johann Heinrich Ludwig Hermenstedt, born music director in a chur Saxon regiment, who came from the black burg Bellstedt in Langensalza. As of February 1788 Johann Simon visited the soldier boys Institute Anna Castle. There he received instruction on all instruments then in use. He continued his training in 1794 continues at the Town Musicians garlic in Waldheim and bear in Colditz. In 1799 he found refuge in the chur -Saxon Regiment "Prinz Clemens " in which also served as his father. Already there were his special abilities emerged as a clarinetist. As part of the regiment he had the opportunity to take advantage of the cultural opportunities of Dresden for his musical education.

In 1801 he was appointed to Sondershausen to start there on the orders of Prince Günther Friedrich Carl I. the Guard Hautboistencorps. It was a harmony Corps with double occupation of oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and trumpets, and with a simple occupation by Baßhorn and trombone. It also served to reinforce the Princely Chapel, the precursor of the later Loh Orchestra. As a Premier hautboist Hermstedt led the Hautboistencorps from 1802. Besides he was still responsible for the programming of concerts in cooperation with the court organist Ernst Ludwig Gerber. 1803 Hermstedt married the daughter of the special court apothecary houses Gerlach. The only son was later Regierungsrat.

Since 1806 found in Lohpark regular open air concerts, which found plenty of popularity among the population because of free entry. First, the orchestra played on the south side of the square in a concert shell, also called the Half Moon. 1837 was on the west side of the Lohparks by Carl Scheppig ( 1803-1885 ) conceived designated as Lohhalle concert hall. On a frieze the significant Kapellmeister were called, with the name Hermstedt came first. Since the concert business was almost set in the winter months, Hermstedt had the opportunity as a clarinetist in the years 1808 to 1841, not to travel to Germany. He was considered the most successful in his field. Hermstedt friendship with Louis Spohr (1784-1859) from Gotha led them to compose clarinet concertos for him. Also on the technical development of the instrument Hermstedt had influence. Thus came the novelty of the metal clarinet mouthpiece in use.

In special Hausen Hermstedt 1824 Kapellmeister and in January 1839 Kapellmeister since 1835 the Guard Hautboistencorps had been dissolved. But already in the same year of his appointment, he went on November 9, 1839, from her own initiative, due to disagreements with the Hofkonzertmeister to retire. On August 10, 1846, he died of a throat ailment in Sondershausen. His grave in the graveyard on the southern city wall is still preserved. It was 2 m to build further north due to road works by private initiative.

Importance

Hermstedt had the reputation of the largest clarinet virtuosos of his time. As a conductor he was instrumental in the development of the court chapel for later Loh -Orchester.

Contemporary judgments: Leipzig, 1809: Not often has numerous Auditorium delighted as a virtuoso, and perhaps never a virtuoso on the wind instruments. Mr. Hermstedt is also most likely the most excellent among all now living Clarinettisten. Not only that, he defeated difficulties on his instruments, and with the greatest of ease, security and grace ... even his glorious and all modifications, cutting sound, the niceties and completing what he does, and the character and expression, by which he made great compositions Master recites .....

Dresden, 1810: Award earned Mr. Hermstedt from Sondershausen Clarinet Concerto. In such perfection we have not yet heard this instrument.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Bad Tennstedt, 1816: I also have to praise what exquisite pleasure given me a Hermstädtisches concert and Private Exhibition, as from musical friends for a long time, I was almost alienated this magnificent art and natural element.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Bad Tennstedt, 1816: The music director of Hermstedt Sondershausen blows the clarinet very exquisite. He had all harmony; that is, brought over a dozen blowing artist, to which the Prince used a lot, they do a very good job.

Swell

• Helmut Köhler: Johann Simon Hermstedt ( 1778-1846 ). Series: Personalities in Sondershausen. Cultural Office of Special Hausen, 1996.

Papers

Letters of Johann Simon Hermstedt are in stock at the Leipzig music publisher CF Peters in Leipzig State Archives.