Karl Hartmann German composer Date of Birth: 02.08.1905 Country: Germany

Biography of Karl Hartmann

Karl Amadeus Hartmann was a German composer born on August 2, 1905, in Munich, into an artistic family. From a young age, he held socialist views. He studied in Munich under Joseph Haas and received significant support from German composer Hermann Scherchen (Hartmann dedicated his First String Quartet to Scherchen in 1933). During the Nazi years, Hartmann withdrew from public musical life, but his compositions were performed abroad, and his fame grew. He collaborated with A. Webern, although he did not share all of his social views and musical perspectives. After the war, he became one of the most influential composers and educators in Germany. Hartmann incorporated the traditions of Mahler, Bruckner, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and elements of jazz into his music. His music deeply influenced the works of Henze. He authored eight symphonies, several operas (including "Young Simplicissimus" based on Grimmelshausen, 1934-1935), chamber and vocal compositions. Many of Hartmann's works are a response to the Holocaust.

From 1949 to 1963, he was a laureate of national and international awards. Hartmann passed away on December 5, 1963, in Munich. In the centennial year of his birth (2005), over 50 memorial concerts were held in Bavaria in honor of the composer.

In Russia, Vladimir Spivakov performed Hartmann's Concerto funebre for violin and orchestra.