Romantic Discoveries Recordings

Piano Music of J.P.E. and Emil Hartmann and August Winding
John Kersey, piano
RDR CD86

Total time: 65 minutes 30 seconds

Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (1805-1900):
1. Fantasistykke: Allegretto grazioso e moderato (5’08”)

August Winding (1835-99): Sommerminder, op 26
2. Feriestemning (1’49”) 3. Nyt Liv (1’27”) 4. J Sukkenes Allee I (2’14”) 5. J Sukkenes Allee II (1’59”) 6. Valse Impromptu (2’28”) 7. Serenade (2’35”) 8. Notturno (6’14”)

J.P.E. Hartmann
9. Introduction et Andantino religioso, op. 26 (7’00”)

August Winding and Emil Hartmann (1836-98): Fjeldstuen, ballet by A. Bournonville
10. Sæterpigernes Dands om det nydødbte Barn (Winding) (3’50”) 11. Astas Dands til Faderens Spil (Hartmann) (2’07”) 12. Bornene Fortælle om Astas Dands (Hartmann) (1’17”) 13. Menuet (Hartmann) (1’02”) 14. Huldredands (Winding) (1’28”) 15. Springdands (Winding) (3’50”) 16. Scherzo (Hartmann) (2’14”)

J.P.E. Hartmann: Novelletten: Sechs kleine Stücke, op 55
17. Allegretto (00’55”) 18. Allegro giocoso (1’07”) 19. Menuet-Tempo (2’04”) 20. Allegro vivace, assai (1’35”) 21. Andantino sostenuto (1’27”) 22. Allegro assai (1’48”)

Emil Hartmann: Sonata in F major, op 17
23. Allegro (2’59”) 24. Cantilene: Andantino (3’07”) 25. Rondo: Allegro grazioso (3’24”)

Our thanks to Dr Denys Waelbroeck for supplying scores of these rare works.

Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann succeeded his father at the Garnisons Kirke in 1824, and thereafter was successively professor at Copenhagen University and the founding director of the Conservatoire there from 1867. His studies in Europe in 1836 brought him into contact with Chopin, Rossini, Cherubini and Spohr. In musical style he successfully fused elements of Nordic nationalism with a post-Mendelssohnian style that at its most progressive (such as in op 74) clearly looks forward to Brahms. The quality of Hartmann’s inspiration and mastery of compositional and pianistic technique was considerable, and marks him out as the leading Danish composer for the piano of his generation.

Emil Hartmann, son of J.P.E., received his early training from his father and developed a successful career in his homeland and Germany, despite being somewhat eclipsed by his father’s fame. His unpublished Sonata shows a forward-looking grasp of the mid-Romantic idiom, with a powerful opening movement followed by two that were both left unfinished, interestingly when each had reached similar melodic ideas. His shorter works are gratefully written for the instrument, showing an apt grasp of the salon style of the turn of the century. The ballet Fjeldstuen (The Mountain Hut, or Twenty Years) to choreography by the royal ballet master August Bournonville was completed in 1859 and was the first significant work of Emil Hartmann, here collaborating with his brother-in-law August Winding, to come to public notice.

August Winding was the son of a pastor, and received his first piano lessons from his parents. In 1847 he studied with Carl Reinecke and from 1848-51 with Anton Rée, also studying composition with Niels Gade. In 1856 he completed his studies in Leipzig and Prague, where he studied with Dreyschock. Returning to Denmark, he became well-known for appearances as a soloist, particularly in Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. In 1864, he married Clara, daughter of J.P.E. Hartmann. From 1867 he taught at the Royal Conservatory, as well as privately. In 1872 he developed a nervous injury to his arm as a result of overwork which forced him to stop concertizing and devote his attention to composition. He resumed teaching at the Conservatory in 1881 and became a member of its board after the death of Gade in 1890. In 1888 he reappeared in public as a soloist and gave a limited number of concerts between then and his death, receiving the accolade of a state professorship and annuity in 1892.