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Hans Christian Lumbye

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Hans Christian Lumbye

Hans Christian Lumbye (Danish pronunciation: [lɔmˈpyː]; 2 May 1810 – 20 March 1874)[1] was a Danish composer of waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and galops, among other things.[2]

Beginnings

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As a child, he studied music in Randers and Odense, and by age 14 he was playing the trumpet in a military band. In 1829, he joined the Horse Guards in Copenhagen, still continuing his music education. In 1839, he heard a Viennese orchestra play music by Johann Strauss I, after which he composed in the style of Strauss, eventually earning the nickname "The Strauss of the North".[3][4]

Career

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From 1843 to 1872, he served as the music director and in-house composer for Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen.[5] Such was his popularity in the Danish capital that many Danes revered him and considered Johann Strauss II as the "Lumbye of the South".

Works

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Lumbye is best known for his light compositions, many of which evoke non-musical sources. The Champagne Galop, for example, begins with the "pop" of a champagne cork, and the Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop faithfully recreates the sounds of a train chugging out of a station and grinding to a halt at the next stop. He honored the Swedish Nightingale with a "Souvenir de Jenny Lind, Vals" from 1845.

Galops

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  • Jubel-Galop (1840(1844)
  • Juliane Galop (1843-1844)
  • Telegraph Galop (1844)
  • Castilianer-Galop (1847)
  • Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop (1847)
  • Capriccio Galop (1851)
  • Juleballet (1855)
  • Champagne Galop (1865)
  • Cirque de Loisset Galop (1862)
  • Bouquet-Royal Galop (1870)
  • Kanon Galop (1853)

March music

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  • Marche du Nord (1856-1857)
  • Kronings Marsch (1860)
  • Kong Frederik den Syvendes Honneur-Marsch (1861)
  • Kong Christian D. 9des Honneur March (1864)
  • Kong Carl d. XVdes Honneur March (1869)
  • Kong Georg den 1stes Honneur Marsch (1873)

Polkas

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  • Caroline Polka (1843)
  • Casino-Polka (1846)
  • Amager-Polka (1849)
  • Camilla Polka (1863)
  • Otto Allins Tromme-Polka (1863/1864)
  • Petersborgerinden

Valses

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  • Krolls Ballklänge
  • Amelie-Vals
  • Casino Vals (1847)
  • Catharina Vals (1857)
  • Til den lille Prinds Christian Carl, Vals (1871)

Personal life

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He was the father of two musician sons, Carl Christian (9 July 1841 - 10 August 1911) and Georg August (26 August 1843 - 1922), who took over his orchestra after his father's death.[6] His grandson Georg Høeberg was an important Danish conductor at Det kongelige Teater.

References

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  1. ^ Constance Green; David Mason Greene (1985). Greene's biographical encyclopedia of composers. Doubleday. p. 571. ISBN 9780385142786.
  2. ^ The Johann Struss Society of Great Britain
  3. ^ AllMusic
  4. ^ Minor Ballet Composers: Biographical Sketches of Sixty-six Underappreciated Yet Significant Contributors to the Body of Western Ballet Music by Bruce R. Schueneman - Google Books pg.58
  5. ^ Naxos Classical Music
  6. ^ ArkivMusic
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