Johann Wilhelm Hertel Biography

Johann Wilhelm Hertel will be best remembered for his Concerto for eight timpani, a rare item in the mid 18th century. He was the son of Johannn Christian Hertel, a famous instrumentalist and composer. A gifted violinist, he was such a fine harpsichordist that he was his father's accompanist at the age of 12. In his younger years he enjoyed employment in the houses of the wealthy in Germany, but was later to move towards the administration of estates, his music and compositions being undertaken in his spare time. His output was therefore modest, and his catalogue of works is further confused by the name 'Hertel' appearing on scores, the attribution to father or son being omitted. He was to write a number of concertos, though it is often unclear as which instrument he intended.