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Niels Gade
Born: February 22, 1817; Copenhagen, Denmark
Died: December 21, 1890; Copenhagen, Denmark
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A multifaceted musician, Niels Wilhelm Gade was probably the most important figure in nineteenth century Danish music, making his mark as a composer, conductor, organist, violinist, teacher, and administrator. He furthered the careers of many important musicians, among them Edvard Grieg and Carl Nielsen, and played a major role in bringing Scandinavian music to the world's notice.
Both of Gade's parents were musical; his father was a
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Works
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A summer's day in the country, Op. 55 (1)
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Aartidsbilleder, Op. 51 (1)
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Af Hoiheden Oprunden (2)
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Akvareller (10), Op. 19 (2)
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Akvareller (10), Op. 19: no 1, Elegie in E minor (1)
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Akvareller (10), Op. 19: no 2, Scherzo in E major (1)
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Akvareller (10), Op. 19: no 3, Canzonette in A minor (1)
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Album Leaves (3) for Piano: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Allegro for String Quartetin a in A minor (1)
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Allegro Vivace for Strings in E flat major (1)
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Andante - Allegro energico - Andante - Tempo I (1)
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Andante and Allegro molto for String Quintet (1)
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Andante for Organ 4 hands (1)
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Andante for Organ in G minor (1)
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Andantino, Moderato, Allegretto and Prayer for Organ (1)
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Aprilsvise (1)
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Aquarel for Piano in A major (1)
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Arabesque, Op. 27 (1)
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Aus dem skizzenbuch (1)
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Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå (2)
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Benedictus and Amen (1)
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Capriccio for Violin and Piano in A minor (6)
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Ceremonial Prelude on "Lobet den Herren" (2)
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Child Jesus in a manger lay (2)
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Chorale and Variations for Organ (1)
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Chorale Preludes (3) for Organ (2)
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Chorale Preludes (3) for Organ: Lobet den Herren (2)
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Comala, Op. 12 (1)
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Concerto for Violin in D minor, Op. 56 (4)
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Die heilige Nacht, Op. 40 (1)
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Easter (1)
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Echoes of Ossian Overture, Op. 1 (9)
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Elverskud, Op. 30 (3)
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Elverskud, Op. 30: I osten stiger solen op "Morgensang" (1)
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Et folkesagn "A Folk Tale" (1)
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Et folkesagn "A Folk Tale": Bridal Waltz (1)
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Et folkesagn "A Folk Tale": Polonaise (1)
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Fantasiestücke (4) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 43 (5)
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Fantasiestücke (4) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 43: no 1, Andantino con moto (2)
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Fantasiestücke (4) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 43: no 2, Allegro Vivace (1)
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Fantasiestücke (4) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 43: no 4, Allegro molto (1)
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Fantasistykker (4) for Piano, Op. 41 (1)
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Festive Prelude (1)
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Finale for Violin and Piano in A major (1)
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Five Songs for men's chorus, Op. 38 (1)
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Folkdances for Violin and Piano, Op. 62 (1)
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Folkdanse, Op. 31 (1)
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From the Sketchbook (1)
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Frühlings-Fantasie, Op. 23 (1)
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Funeral March for the Burial of Admiral Suenson (1)
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Gebeth (2)
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Gefion, Op. 54 (1)
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Hamlet Overture, Op. 37 (3)
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Holbergiana, Op. 61 (1)
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Hymnus "Seht, welch ein Mensch!" (1)
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Idyller (4), Op. 34 (1)
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Idyller (4), Op. 34: no 4, Abenddammerung (1)
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In the Highlands, Op. 7 (1)
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Jealousy (3)
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Just like the flower in the field fades (1)
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Kalanus, Op. 48 (1)
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Mariotta: Overture (1)
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Napoli (1)
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Napoli, ballet: I den blaa Grotte (In the Blue Grotto) (1)
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Napoli: Excerpt(s) (1)
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Napoli: Suite dansante (1)
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Neue Aquarelle for Piano, Op. 57 (1)
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Novellette for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 29 (1)
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Novellette for Strings no 1 in F, Op. 53 (6)
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Novellette for Strings no 2 in E, Op. 58 (5)
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O du, der du die Liebe (2)
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Octet for Strings in F major, Op. 17 (4)
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Overture no 3 in C major, Op. 14 (1)
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Prayer (1)
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Psyche, Op. 60 (1)
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På sjolunds fagre sletter (1)
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Quartet for Strings in D major, Op. 63 (1)
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Quartet for Strings in E minor (2)
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Quartet for Strings in F major "Willkommen und Abschied" (1)
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Quartet for Strings in F minor (1)
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Quintet for Strings in F minor (2)
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Quintet for Strings no 1 in E minor, Op. 8 (1)
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Reiterleben, for men's chorus, Op. 16 (1)
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Scherzino for Piano (1)
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Scherzo for Piano Quartet (1)
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Sextet for Strings in E flat major, Op. 44 (2)
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Short piece for Organ (1)
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Should it come to pass, Lord, as I wish (1)
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Sonata for Piano in E minor, Op. 28 (2)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 1 in A major, Op. 6 (5)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 2 in D minor, Op. 21 (7)
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Sonata for Violin and Piano no 3 in B flat major, Op. 59 (5)
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Songs (5), Op. 13 (3)
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Spring Flowers, Op. 2b (1)
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Symphony no 1 in C minor, Op. 5 "Paa Sjølunds fagre sletter" (4)
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Symphony no 2 in E major, Op. 10 (3)
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Symphony no 3 in A minor, Op. 15 (4)
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Symphony no 4 in B flat major, Op. 20 (3)
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Symphony no 5 in D minor, Op. 25 (4)
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Symphony no 6 in G minor, Op. 32 (3)
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Symphony no 7 in F major, Op. 45 (3)
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Symphony no 8 in B minor, Op. 47 (3)
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Symphony no 8 in B minor, Op. 47: Allegretto, un poco lento (1)
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Take up arms, hero of Golgotha (1)
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The Crusader, Op. 50 (2)
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The Infant Jesus lay in a crib (1)
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The Natural Life (1)
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Tone Pieces (3) for Organ, Op. 22 (7)
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Tone Poem Pieces (3) for Organ, Op. 22: no 1 (2)
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Tone Poem Pieces (3) for Organ, Op. 22: no 3 - Allegro (1)
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Tre Tonestykker (3 Tone Pieces), for organ, Op. 22 (1)
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Trio for Organ in C major (1)
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Trio for Organ in F major (1)
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Trio for Piano and Strings in B flat major (1)
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Trio for Piano and Strings in F major, Op. 42 (2)
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Volkstanz und romance (1)
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Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern for organ (1)
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Zion, Op. 49 (1)
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Biography |
by Chris Morrison
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A multifaceted musician, Niels Wilhelm Gade was probably the most important figure in nineteenth century Danish music, making his mark as a composer, conductor, organist, violinist, teacher, and administrator. He furthered the careers of many important musicians, among them Edvard Grieg and Carl Nielsen, and played a major role in bringing Scandinavian music to the world's notice.
Both of Gade's parents were musical; his father was a cabinetmaker who turned to making musical instruments. As his family was poor, Gade received no formal music schooling until he was 15. He studied violin with F.T. Wexschall, a violinist in the Royal Orchestra, and theory and composition with Andreas Peter Berggreen. Berggreen was also a noted folklorist and passed along to Gade an interest in Danish folk music and literature. Gade made his debut as a violinist in 1833, and the following year became a junior player in the Royal Orchestra.
His earliest compositions date from his teens. His official Op. 1, the overture Efterklange af Ossian (Echoes of Ossian, 1840), was much praised and won Gade a Copenhagen Musical Society prize. When his Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 5 (1841-1842) was not accepted for performance in Denmark, Gade sent it to Felix Mendelssohn in Leipzig, who loved the work and programmed it in 1843. That same year, Gade was given a government grant that allowed him to travel to Leipzig. He met Mendelssohn, who engaged him as assistant conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra and as a teacher at the Leipzig Conservatory. Not surprisingly, many of Gade's compositions of the time, such as the Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 15 (1847), strongly reflect Mendelssohn's influence. After Mendelssohn's death in 1847, Gade became principal conductor of the Gewandhaus, but when war broke out between Prussia and Denmark in 1848, Gade returned to Denmark.
Gade was always very much engaged in Copenhagen's musical life: he conducted concerts, played the organ in churches, and provided music for ceremonial occasions. He also founded an orchestra and choir that in later years gave many significant performances, including the premieres of many of Gade's own compositions. In 1852 he married Emma Sophie Hartmann, the daughter of composer J.P.E. Hartmann, and composed two works for her: the Spring Fantasy, Op. 23 for voices, piano and orchestra; and as a wedding present, the Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 25. She died just a few years later, however, and Gade remarried in 1857. In 1866, he became the director of the new Copenhagen Academy of Music, where for many years he taught composition and music history; among his students was Carl Nielsen. His teaching and administrative schedules allowed him to compose only during the summer months.
Gade specialized in cantatas (or as he sometimes called them, "Koncertstykke") for soloists, chorus and orchestra, many taking their themes from Danish folklore. Perhaps the most popular of these is Elverskud, Op. 30 (The Elf-King's Daughter, 1853). His cantata Psyche, Op. 60 (1881-1882), was written for a Birmingham music festival; by that time Gade was known all over Europe. He ultimately produced eight symphonies, many chamber works and cantatas, and a variety of shorter character pieces and songs. |
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