Harrer Johann Gottlob, *8 May 1703 Görlitz (Zgorzelec), †9 July 1755 Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary), German composer. In 1722–25, he studied law at the University of Leipzig. In the following years, thanks to the financial help of Count H. Brühl, he studied music in Italy. In 1731–50, he worked in Dresden as a bandmaster at the court of his protector. In 1750–55, he served as cantor at the church of St. Thomas in Leipzig as the successor of J.S. Bach. At the end of his life, he received the title of court composer of the Elector of Saxony and the Polish king Augustus III.
The instrumental pieces and religious music with Latin texts probably come from the Dresden period of Harrer’s work, while the great vocal and instrumental forms (oratorios, cantatas, passions) were created mainly during the composer’s stay in Leipzig (1750–55). Harrer’s work remains in the sphere of Italian influences (J.A. Hasse) and only in a few works the composer refers to the tradition of German polyphony and the a cappella style. His treatise Specimen contrapuncti duplicis… did not gain much publicity.
Literature: A. Schering Der Thomaskantor J.G. Harrer (1703–1755), “Bach-Jahrbuch” XXVIII, 1931.
Compositions:
Instrumental:
27 sinfonias (including 7 lost)
Symphony in D major for 2 oboes, 2 horns, bassoon, 2 violins, alto and bass
Symphony in D major for 2 horns, 2 violins, alto and bass
3 harpsichord sonatas
moreover, lost:
concerts for various instruments
quartets
sonatas
51 flute duos and others
Vocal-instrumental:
religious:
Missa a capella in F major for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Mass in D major for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra, 1735
Magnificat in G major for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Miserere in C minor for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Kyrie for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Sanctus for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
4 psalms for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
2 Kyrie eleison fugues for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Gott ist mein Hort, fugue for 2SATB with colla parte orchestra
Mein Herz ist bereit, motet in Vierstimmige Motetten und Arien in Partitur, vol. 2., published by J.A. Hiller, Leipzig 1777
year-long cycle of 48 religious cantatas (lost)
Oratories and passions:
Gioas, rè di Giuda, performed in Leipzig 1753
La morte d’Abel, libr. based on P. Metastasis, a German translation by the composer, performed in Leipzig in 1753
Ich weiss nicht, wo ich bin, libr, by P. Metastasis, manuscript in Gdańsk, Bibilioteka PAN, signature 17 and next: from 21840, 8°
Manuscripts of Harrer’s works are located mainly in Dresden – Sächsische Landesbibliothek, Leipzig – Musikbibliothek der Stadt, Berlin – Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz, as well as in Uppsala – Uniwersitetsbibliothek and Herrnhut
Work:
Specimen contrapuncti duplicis in octava etiam in decimam convertibilis et manentibus semper eisdem figuris a duobus, tribus et quatuor vocibus elaboratum a G. Harrer, manuscript in Berlin
