Angul Hammerih Danish musicologist. Date of Birth: 25.11.1848 Country: Denmark

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career as a Music Critic and Scholar
3. Professor of Music History
4. Founder of the Museum of Musical History
5. Research on Medieval Music
6. Later Works and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Angul Hammerich was born into a distinguished musical family in Copenhagen, Denmark. His father, Peter Frederik Hammerich, was a renowned historian, and his brother, Asger Hamerik, became a celebrated composer. Hammerich's early education focused on music, with lessons in both cello and piano. However, he later pursued a degree in politics at the University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1872.

Career as a Music Critic and Scholar

Following his graduation, Hammerich briefly served in the Danish civil service. However, his passion for music soon led him to embark on a career as a music critic. By 1880, he had fully committed himself to music. In 1892, he became the first person in Denmark to earn a doctorate in music history, with his dissertation on music at the court of King Christian IV. That same year, he published a history of the Copenhagen Conservatory of Music.

Professor of Music History

In 1896, Hammerich was appointed Denmark's first professor of music history at the University of Copenhagen. He taught at the university until his retirement in 1922. During this time, he published numerous scholarly works on music, including an important study on ancient Scandinavian bronze horns.

Founder of the Museum of Musical History

In 1897, Hammerich founded the Museum of Musical History in Copenhagen and served as its director for the rest of his life. In 1909, he published a catalog of the museum's collection.

Research on Medieval Music

Hammerich devoted much of his research to the music of Iceland and Denmark's medieval period. In 1899, he published a groundbreaking article on ancient Icelandic music. His most significant contribution in this area was his 1912 monograph, "Musical Monuments of Danish Medieval Music," which was later translated into English and published in the United States.

Later Works and Legacy

In 1916, Hammerich published a biography of the Danish composer Peter Hartmann. His final major work was "History of Danish Music to 1700," published in 1921. Angul Hammerich's extensive research and publications made him a pioneering figure in the field of Danish music history, and his legacy continues to inspire scholars and musicians today.