(b Eisenach, 9 Oct 1727; d Schwerin, 14 June 1789). German violinist, keyboard player and composer. As a boy he accompanied his father as harpsichordist on concert tours; later he was a violin pupil of Franz Benda. He worked at the Strelitz court, 1744-53, and was court composer in Schwerin, 1754-67, remaining active there. His output includes masses, Passions and cantatas etc for the court, numerous keyboard concertos (which rank beside C. P. E. Bach's) and over 40 symphonies. He also wrote lieder, incidental music, chamber and solo keyboard works, a thoroughbass treatise and two autobiographies.

Hertel's father Johann Christian (1699-1754) was one of the best viol players of his time and a violinist. He served at the Eisenach court (from 1733 as Konzertmeister and director of music) and then at Strelitz, composing many instrumental works. His father, Jakob Christian (fl c1667- c1726), was Kapellmeister in Oettingen and later Merseburg.

The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.