Johann Wilhelm Hertel

Johann Wilhelm Hertel ( born October 9, 1727 Eisenach, † June 14, 1789 in Schwerin ) was a German composer.

Life

Hertel was born into a musical family in Eisenach, received instruction in violin and piano by his father Johann Christian Hertel. In 1742, he came up with this to Mecklenburg- Strelitz, where he worked as a violinist and harpsichordist 1744. After studies in Zerbst and Berlin, he returned in 1754, first as a concert master, then as the " Court and Capell - Compositeur " to Mecklenburg -Schwerin. Under Duke Christian Ludwig II Hertel wrote especially representative instrumental music, under his successor Friedrich (called " the Pious " ) shifted the focus of his work to spiritual music. From 1759 to 1760 he was organist at the Marienkirche Stralsund. In 1770 he was appointed privy councilor; he was private secretary to Princess Ulrike Sophie and gave music lessons in circles of the Schwerin court.

His descendants include the composer Paul Hertel and the oboist Alfred Hertel.

Work

Hertel wrote a larger number of symphonies, concertos, harpsichord sonatas, songs, psalms, cantatas and oratorios. He is an important representative of the " emotional style " of the early German classical music. Especially popular were his symphonies in D major and G major, the Bassoon Concerto in A minor, and his Harpsichord Sonata in D minor.

Writings

• Johann Wilhelm Hertel (ed.): collection of musical writings mostly translated from the works of the Italians and the French and with comments by Johann Wilhelm Hertel, Leipzig 1757/1758, 2 pcs in 1 vol; Digitized in MDC