Hartmann, Karl Amadeus (1905–1963)

German composer. He began composing late in life, but destroyed his early works and turned to serialism under the influence of Anton Webern. After World War II he organized the important ‘Musica Viva’ concerts in Munich to propagate new music. In 1952 he was elected to the German Academy of Fine Arts and in 1953 became president of the German section of the International Society for Contemporary Music.

He studied with Josef Haas at the Munich Academy and later with Hermann Scherchen.

Works Chamber opera Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend (1934–35; produced 1949).

Orchestral and chamber eight symphonies (1936–62), concerto for piano, wind, and percussion, Musik der Trauer for violin and strings (1939), two string quartets.