Hartmann, Johann Ernst (EN)

Hartmann Johann Ernst, *24 December 1726 Głogów, Silesia, †21 October 1793 Copenhagen, Danish composer and violinist of German origin. He most likely received his musical education at the Jesuit school in Głogów. From 1754 to 1757 he was a violinist in the bishop’s chapel in Wrocław. In 1761 he moved to the court at Rudolstadt and soon became Kapellmeister at the court in Plön (Duchy of Holstein). After Holstein came under Danish rule, he was appointed, together with other musicians, to the royal court orchestra in Copenhagen (1762). He returned to Plön twice (1763 and 1764), but in 1766 settled permanently in Copenhagen. In 1768 he was appointed concertmaster, a position that also entailed duties as Kapellmeister at the royal court, in the theatre, and later (in the 1780s) in the musical society Det Harmoniske Selskab. J.E. Hartmann was an outstanding violinist who frequently appeared in public performances and also taught violin. In 1777 he wrote a violin method (manuscript preserved in Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Copenhagen). He was interested in Nordic folklore and prepared old Icelandic and Norwegian folk melodies for Essai sur la musique ancienne et moderne by J.B. de La Borde (Paris, 1780; facsimile edition, 1972). Although many of his works were performed in Copenhagen, only a small number were published. Most of the manuscripts kept in the court archives of Christiansborg Palace were destroyed in a fire in 1794.

At first, Hartmann composed primarily instrumental music, combining the compositional techniques of the Mannheim School with the lyrical, song-like melodic style associated with Italian music. Later, through his collaboration with J. Ewald, he composed singspiels that became highly significant in the history of Danish music. In these works, he drew on the ideas of Gluck, introducing choruses with a dramatic function, while also reflecting the influence of Ph.A. Monsigny and A.-E.-M. Grétry. These stage works, through their use of Scandinavian folklore (Fiskerne) and Norse mythology (Balders død), became a direct precursor to Danish Romantic opera. Several songs from Hartmann’s stage works achieved enormous popularity, and a melody from Gorm den Gamle was later adapted as the melody of the Danish national anthem.

Literature: J. Mulvad Omkring udgivelsen af „Balders død”, “Dansk Aarbog for Musikforskning” X, 1979.