August Harder (1775–1813) was a German musician and composer who played a fundamental role in the development and popularization of the classical guitar in the early 19th century. Today, he is best known as the composer of the famous melody for the German folk and church hymn “Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud” (“Go forth, my heart, and seek delight”).
Pioneer of Guitar Pedagogy
- The Guitar Method: His posthumously published “Neue theoretische und praktische Guitarrenschule” (New Theoretical and Practical Guitar Method, ca. 1813/1820) was one of the most influential instructional books of the Biedermeier era.
- Revolutionary Stance: Harder was ahead of his time by recommending that the guitar be leaned against the body and rested on the right thigh. Until then, the instrument was often held freehand or with straps.
- Criticism of Ornaments: In his writings, he advised “wise economy” regarding ornaments (such as trills) to avoid cluttering the harmonic character of the guitar.
Compositions and Repertoire
- Songs for Guitar: Harder specialized in setting poems (including works by Goethe) for voice with an independent guitar accompaniment.
- Arrangements: He arranged major works of his contemporaries for the instrument, including twelve songs by Joseph Haydn in 1806.
- The Fashionable Instrument: Around 1810, Harder noted that no other instrument had achieved such massive success and status as a trendy instrument in so short a time as the guitar.
Most Famous Work: “Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud”
Although the lyrics were written by Paul Gerhardt, Harder created the catchy, simple melody in 1813 that turned the piece into one of the best-known German folk songs. To this day, it is frequently played on the guitar using classical fingerstyle or as a simple campfire song. Free sheet music and historical song sheets of his works can be downloaded on platforms like Musicalion.
