Hertel, Johann Wilhelm (EN)

Hertel Johann Wilhelm, *9 October 1727 Eisenach, †14 June 1789 Schwerin, violinist, harpsichordist and composer, son of Johann Christian. He began his musical education with J.H. Heil (a student of J.S. Bach) and at the age of just 12, he was giving concerts, accompanying his father on the harpsichord. In 1742–43, he studied violin with C. Hoeckh, Kapellmeister in Zerbst. From 1744, he was a violinist and harpsichordist in the court chapel in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, where his father played. He established contacts with outstanding Berlin musicians: C.Ph.E. Bach and F. Benda and his brothers; he became known as a talented violinist and harpsichordist. In 1753, he became a court composer in Schwerin, he also worked in Stralsund as an organist in 1758–60, and later as a manager of church music affairs. At the court in Schwerin, he was the private secretary of Princess Ulrika from 1765, and he received the title of court councillor in 1770.

J.W. Hertel’s vocal work is rich, written on commission, celebrating more important events at the court (occasional cantatas, also religious works). The songs, which he composed mostly to poems by J.F. Löwen (secretary of the court in Schwerin), generally show the influence of Telemann, J.V. Görner and A.C. Kunzen (as if on a folk model, clear structure, simple harmony), as well as C.Ph.E. Bach (deepening emotional expression, more developed harmony). J.W. Hertel wrote numerous sinfonias and – as an excellent instrumentalist – brilliant concertos, mainly for keyboard instruments and violin, also for cello, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet and harp, which are equal to C.Ph.E. Bach’s concertos and are among the best works of this genre written in northern Germany. J.W. Hertel was highly regarded by contemporary experts (E.L. Gerber, J.N. Forkel). He was distinguished by his exceptional artistic taste, and stylistically he fit into the then pre-classical German empfindsamer Stil. He composed mainly for the needs of the court in Schwerin, which is why most of his works were known only in court circles and were not published during the creator’s lifetime. Contemporary editions are made by various publishing houses, mainly German ones. J.W. Hertel is also the author of several theoretical works and autobiographies.

Literature: O. Kade Die Musikalien-Sammlung des Grossherzoglich Mecklenburger Fürstenhauses aus den letzten 2 Jahrhunderts, 2 volumes, Wismar 1893, reprint Hildesheim 1974; C. Meyer Geschichte der Mecklenburg-Schweriner Hofkapelle, Schwerin 1913; H. Rentzow Die mecklenburgischen Liederkomponisten des 18. Jahrhunderts, Hannover 1938; R. Hertel The Keyboard Concertos of Johann Wilhelm Hertel, unpublished dissertation, The Catholic University of America, 1964; R. Hertel Johann Wilhelm Hertel (1727–1789): A 250^th Birthday Tribute, “College Music Symposium” 18, 1978 no. 1; R. Diekow Hertel (Familie), in: Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, vol. 8, ed. L. Finscher, 2^nd ed. Kassel 2002.