Hertel, Johann Wilhelm 10/09/1727 - 06/14/1789

Hertel came from a family of musicians in Eisenach and received lessons in violin and piano from his father Johann Christian Hertel. In 1742, he moved with him to Mecklenburg-Strelitz, where he worked as a violinist and harpsichordist in 1744. After studies in Zerbst and Berlin, he came to Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1754, first as concertmaster, then as "Hof- und Capell-Compositeur". Under Duke Christian Ludwig II, Hertel wrote representative instrumental music in particular; under his successor Frederick (called "the Pious"), the focus of his work shifted to sacred music. From 1759 to 1760, he was organist at the Marienkirche in Stralsund.] In 1770, he was appointed court councillor. He was private secretary to Princess Ulrike Sophie and gave music lessons in Schwerin court circles. His descendants include the composer Paul Hertel and the oboist Alfred Hertel.