Robert Schumann praised Hartmann's Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, calling him 'an artist who appeases us through the harmony of his powers'.
Composer Biography
J.P.E. Hartmann was part of a Danish musical dynasty, and many later Danish composers, including Niels W. Gade and Carl Nielsen, can trace their roots or inspiration to him.
Compositional Technique
Hartmann's overture for 'Hakon Jarl' features a 'pagan' battle motif in minor set against a 'Christian' hymn-like theme, symbolizing religious strife between two Viking kings.
Cultural Impact
Hartmann's opera 'Little Kirsten' was seen as embodying the essence of 'Danishness' at the time of its creation, with a libretto by Hans Christian Andersen.
Composer Biography
J.P.E. Hartmann, a Danish composer, lived from 1805 to 1900, dominating most of the 19th century and becoming a beacon in Nordic music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Hartmann became the principal exponent of a Danish national tone, prominently exemplified in his overtures to historical plays and his opera 'Little Kirsten'.
