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James: John Hartmann was Prussian. Most of his not very happy career was spent in English military bands. As a brass instructor, you should become familiar with some of the basic references. Here is a brief article from the Rehrig Encyclopedia of Band Music: HARTMANN, JOHN (1830-1897) John Hartmann, son of a peasant farmer, was born at Auleben, Prussia, on October 24, 1830. He came from a large musical family, and his grandfather, an enthusiastic amateur musician, left the family a large collection of music and instruments. The Hartmann children enjoyed playing and experimenting with these instruments, and John, who made the most progress, began arranging music for the village band at the age of ten. He later was sent to the school of music at Sondershausen, where he remained for four years. By this time, he had gained a general knowledge of harmony and instrumentation and was a fair violinist and an excellent cornetist. Service in the Prussian Army was mandatory, and because musicians were allowed to choose their own regiment, he elected to join the Cuirassiers and remained at Cologne as solo cornetist of that band for three years. The Cuirassiers performed as a small string orchestra in which he played first violin. Early in 1854, Herr Schallehn, who resigned as bandmaster when the band went to the Russian War, was engaged by the Crystal Palace Company of England to provide a brass band. This band became the best in England. He went to Germany to seek musicians and returned to England with August Manns and John Hartmann's brother, Ernest. John followed as soon as his term of military service expired the following October. Hartmann's first appearance in England was as a cornet player in the Crystal Palace Band. He composed and arranged several new pieces for band, and they were soon performed. It was evident that there were many excellent musicians in the Crystal Palace Band, and one day Hartmann received a letter from Boosey's offering him the position of bandmaster of the Tyrone Militia, then stationed at Sheffield. He went from the Tyrone Militia to Sunderland and afterwards accompanied that regiment to Ireland. While there, his brother Ernest obtained for him an appointment to the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards. In the meantime, John had taken over the band of the Royal Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham Militia), which at that time was one of the best brass bands in the country. When the Nottingham Militia was discharged, Hartmann joined the newly formed 2nd Battalion of the (King's Own) 4th Foot at Chichester, where he again had to form the band from scratch. The colonel in charge did not understand much ahout music; only three days after the band had begun to learn to play their instruments, he ordered them to play for him. At first Hartmann thought it was a joke, but being assured by the adjutant that the colonel was serious, he went to the Colonel and invited him to listen to them in the rehearsal room. He did and was pleased with their performance. Seeing that his superiors wanted music from his band immediately, Hartmann imported several German musicians. These turned out to be less than the best, and as a result the English recruits soon were playing better than their fellow German soldiers, giving rise to much animosity between the two factions. Hartmann went to Corfu with the 4th Foot Guards, and three years later he returned to London on leave. On the plea that the climate in Corfu would create a hardship for him, he obtained a release from that regiment and joined the 12th Lancers at Hounslow for four years. His service with this regiment was unpleasant; the band members were indifferent, and he could get no assistance from the Officers to put the band on a proper footing. In addition to their band work, the bandsmen had to do stable duty and other chores not related to music. A few months after they were relieved from these other, nonmusical chores, the 12th Lancers band was reputed to be one of the best in the service. While in Dublin, the Duke of Cambridge sent for Hartmann and enlisted him to serve with his regiment in Aldershot, Leeds, and Manchester. When the order came that all bandmasters should be enlisted, and that they had to pass through Kneller Hall, he retired. His old regiment, the King's Dragoon Guards, endeavored to have the order suspended so Hartmann could rejoin their band as bandmaster, but the request was denied. Hartmann returned to Germany, but there he found himself a stranger, having outlived the simple manners and customs of his homeland. He soon returned to London and devoted the remainder of his life to arranging and composing for many of the major publishing houses of England. He died in Liverpool. References Berger, Band Encylopedia. Metronome, May 1892; June 1891. KNOWN WORKS A. INSTRUMENTAL SOLOS (cornet solos unless noted) 1. Alexis a. (Fischer,1883) b. (unpublished, arr. H. Higgins) 2. Arhucklenian Polka a. (Bovaco) b. (Fischer, 1912) 3. Auld Lang Syne, grand fantasy a. (Bovaco, arr. H. Prendiville) b. (Fischer, 1889) 4. The Champion, grand fantasy (Fischer, 1891, arr. P. DeVille) 5. Columbia Polka 6. The Conquering Hero, grand fantasy (Fischer, 1889) 7. DeBereit's 6th Air Vane, (Fischer, arr. P. DeVille) 8. DeBereit's 7th Air Vane, (Fischer, arr. P. DeVille) 9. Facilita a. (Boosey & Hawkes, arr. T.C. Brown) b. (Fischer, 1900, arr. L.P. Laurendean) 10. TheFavorite (Bovaco, arr. F. Beyer) h. (Fischer, 1000) 11. Lizzie Polka a. (Fischer, 1912) b. (Hawkes) 12. Longing for Home (Fischer, 1922) 13. Mia, grand fantasy, (Fischer, 1895) 14. New Star Polka (Fischer, 1887) 15. Pretty Jane, grand fantasy (Fischer, 1889, arr. H. Prendiville) 16. The Return, air vane (Molenaur, arr. G. MOI) 17. See the Conquering Hero 18. Sehnsucht, euphonium solo 19. Silver King Polka (Fischer, 1887) 20. Skirmish Polka (Fischer, 1905) 21. Tom Bowling, grand fantasy, (Ftscher, 1891, arr. P. DeVille) 22. Una, concert polka (Fischer, 1891) 23. Weher's Last Waltz, variations a. (Bovaco, arr. P. DeVille) h. (Fischer, 1903) c. (Kalmus) 24. The West Brighton (Fischer, 1883) B. OTHER WORKS 25. A Battle Scene, fantasy (LaFleur, Journal 90) 26. The Chanticlears, humorous serenade (Hawkes, Journal 149) 27. Maid of Athens, troop (Boosey) 28. A Night in Berlin, medley (Fischer, 1883, arr. M. Meyrelles) 29. Two Mexican Dances (Hawkes, Journal 143) Hope this helps. -Mark in Woodstock, NY USA -- unsubscribe or receive the list in digest form, mail a message of 'help' to listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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