Hans Christian Lumbye (; 2 May 1810 – 20 March 1874) was a Danish composer of waltzes,

polka Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. History Etymology The term ...

s, mazurkas and galops, among other things.

Beginnings

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".

Career

From 1843 to 1872, he served as the music director and in-house composer for

Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens, also known simply as Tivoli, is an amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world, after Dyrehavsbakken in nearby Klampe ...

. Such was his popularity in the Danish capital that many Danes revered him and considered

Johann Strauss II Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (german: links=no, Sohn), was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed ov ...

as the "Lumbye of the South".

Works

Lumbye is best known for his light compositions, many of which evoke non-musical sources. The ''

Champagne Galop The ''Champagne Galop'' ( da, Champagnegaloppen) is a piece of orchestral music by the Danish composer Hans Christian Lumbye (1810–1874) which was written to celebrate the second anniversary of Copenhagen's Tivoli in 1845. Together with Lumby ...

'', 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 Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...

, Vals" from 1845.

Galops

* ''Jubel-Galop'' (1840(1844) * ''Juliane Galop'' (1843-1844) * Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop'' (1844) * ''Telegraph Galop'' (1844) * ''Castilianer-Galop'' (1847) * ''Capriccio Galop'' (1851) * ''Juleballet'' (1855) *''

'' (1865) * ''Cirque de Loisset Galop'' (1862) * ''Bouquet-Royal Galop'' (1870) * ''Kanon Galop'' (1853)

March music

* ''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'' (1973)

Polkas

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

Valses

* ''Krolls Ballklänge'' * ''Amelie-Vals'' * ''Casino Vals'' (1847) * ''Catharina Vals'' (1857)

Personal life

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.ArkivMusic
/ref> His grandson

Georg Høeberg Georg Valdemar Høeberg ( 27 December 1872 in Copenhagen – 3 August 1950 in Vedbaek ) was a Danish violinist, conductor and composer. He was the brother of the opera singer Albert Høeberg and cellist Ernst Høeberg and grandson of Hans Christian ...

was an important Danish conductor at Det kongelige Teater.

References

External links

*
The Danish Royal Library archive of Lumbye's works

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lumbye, Hans Christian 1810 births 1874 deaths Danish classical composers Danish male classical composers Danish Romantic composers Ballet composers Danish conductors (music) Male conductors (music) 19th-century classical composers 19th-century conductors (music) Burials at Holmen Cemetery 19th-century Danish composers