Berlin Johan Daniel, *12 May 1714 Klaipėda (then Memel, Duchy of Prussia), †4 November 1787 Trondheim, Norwegian organist, composer, and theorist of German origin. He studied in Copenhagen under A. Berg. In 1737, he settled in Trondheim as a city musician, and from 1740 also as a cathedral organist. His sons Johan Andreas (1734–1772), Johan Daniel (1749–1791) and Johan Henrik (1741–1807) were musicians as well.
His primer book (Musikalske elementer) is the first Scandinavian textbook on music theory. As an author of treatises, an outstanding organist, and a designer and inventor (he built, among other things, a device to facilitate the tuning of pianos, a keyboard viola da gamba, and, in 1751, a piano with pedal), he enjoyed European renown. Berlin’s musical output included about 30 compositions (cantatas, concertos, sonatas, symphonies, dances), only some of which have survived. They combine features of late Baroque musical language with distinct elements of the galant style. His Sinfonia a 5 for cornett, strings, and basso continuo is one of the latest works to use this somewhat forgotten wind instrument in a solo role.
Literature (selection): B. Kortsen The Music of Johan Daniel Berlin (1714–87), Bergen 1984; K. Michelsen (ed.) Johan Daniel Berlin 1714–1787: Universalgeniet i Trondheim, Trondheim 1987.
Compositions, works, and editions
Compositions:
Musicalisches Divertissement, bestehend, aus einer leichten melodieusen und nach modernen Gusto für das Clavier gesezten Sonatina, Augsburg 1751
Sinfonia a 5 for cornett, strings and basso continuo
Sinfonia for strings, 2 flutes (added later), 2 clarinets, and basso continuo
Sinfonia a 6 for strings, 2 flutes (added later), 2 clarinets, and basso continuo
Concerto a 5 for solo violin, strings and basso continuo
6 Dants-Menuetter for violin and basso continuo
Smaller individual compositions (Allegro, Aria)
Works:
Musicaliske Elementer, Trondheim 1744
Anleitung zur Tonometrie oder Wie man durch Hülfe der logarithmischen Rechnung nach der geometrischen Progressionsrechnung die sogenannte gleichschwebende musikalische Temperatur leicht und bald ausrechnen kann, Copenhagen 1767, new edition, ed. B. Korsten, Bergen 1976
Editions:
The Collected Works of Johan Daniel Berlin, pub. B. Korsten, Bergen 1977
