Johann Hartmann

Johann Ernst Hartmann (24 December 1726, Głogów, Bohemian Crown – 21 October 1793, Copenhagen) was a Danish composer. He was first generation in a long line of composers in Denmark. He is remembered in particular for his two operas on texts by Johannes Ewald in which he helped creating a national musical style, inspired by composers such as Gluck. The first of these, Balders død, builds on the old Nordic mythology and uses dark colours when depicting the old Gods and valkyries. The second, Fiskerne, describes contemporary fishermen’s lives, and uses melodies inspired by the Scandinavian folk style. 
Most of the works of Hartmann were destroyed in the fire of Christiansborg Castle shortly after his death. The below list contains the few works that still exist today. 
Two of Hartmann’s sons were composers, Johan Ernst Hartmann and August Wilhelm Hartmann, and a third, Ludvig August was a violinist. Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann was the son of August Wilhelm Hartmann.