Heinrich Joseph Baermann

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Heinrich Joseph Baermann (also spelled Bärmann) (February 14, 1784, Potsdam, Germany – June 11, 1847, Munich, Germany) was a clarinet virtuoso of the Romantic era who is generally considered as being not only an outstanding performer of his time, but highly influential in the creation of several composers' compositions. In his youth, Baermann took lessons from Joseph Beer (1744–1811) at the military school in Potsdam. After his skill came to the attention of the Berlin court in 1804, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia had the 20 year old musician pursue his training in Berlin under the guidance of Franz Tausch (1762–1817). He was employed in the court orchestra of Munich from 1807 until his retirement in 1834 when his son Carl Baermann succeeded him. Parallel to Baermann's rise, the clarinet was undergoing a series of developments in key construction and embouchure that allowed greater agility and flexibility in playing. It was becoming custom to now play with the reed on the bottom lip, as is done today, as opposed to the top lip as had been the previous prevailing style. Baermann was an exponent of this new style of playing, and possessed a modern instrument made by Griesling and Schlott which allowed him to play chromatic passages with far greater ease than traditional 5 keyed instruments. He is said to have had a great dynamic range.[1] Numerous composers wrote for Baermann, and he undoubtedly influenced the romantic clarinet repertoire. Along with lesser well known com

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