August Winding

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August Winding in 1865

August Winding (24 March 1835 – 16 June 1899) was a Danish pianist, teacher and composer.

Life[]

Early life and education[]

August Henrik Winding was born in Tårs, near Sandby on the island of Lolland.[1] His father was a clergyman who collected and arranged Danish folk songs, and also an excellent pianist who became his son's first music teacher. August’s three brothers were equally highly musical, most of all his brother Peter Buonaventura who, despite his early death at the age of 16, had some of his works published. In 1847, August’s parents sent the 12 year old to Copenhagen for musical education. He stayed there at the house of J.P.E. Hartmann and was given piano lessons by Carl Reinecke until the latter’s departure for Paris in 1848, and then by (1820-1886),[2] who had been an acquaintance of Frédéric Chopin. He also was taught theory and composition by Niels Gade.[3][4] In 1856 he went to Leipzig for further studies, and then had lessons with Alexander Dreyschock in Prague.[4] who called him «the best of his pupils hitherto».

Pianist[]

His public career was originally as a pianist; he became rapidly the leading pianist of his days in Denmark, but also played in many countries of Europe, specialising in Beethoven and Mozart.[3] His "calling card" was Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto.[4]

In 1864 he married J. P. E. Hartmann's daughter Clara[4] (Niels Gade married another daughter). In 1867 he became a teacher at the Royal Danish Conservatory in Copenhagen[1][3] and also privately.[4]

August Winding was one of Edvard Grieg's closest friends.

Arm injury and career as a composer[]

In 1867 he injured his arm through overwork, which forced his retirement as a performer but also enabled him to devote himself to composing.[4] In 1881, he resumed his pedagogical activity at the conservatorium. Between 1888 and his death he gave some further concerts.[4]

Death and legacy[]

August Winding died in 1899 in Copenhagen, aged 64. He is buried in . He was survived by a daughter, Ingeborg Winding, a painter and the mother of architects and designers Mogens and Flemming Lassen, and a son, Poul Andreas Winding, a violinist.

Style and legacy[]

His music was for many years virtually forgotten, apart from some hymn tunes, but attention is now being paid to his major works.

Compositions[]

  • Orchestral
    • Nordic Overture, Op. 7
    • Symphony, Op. 39
    • Symphony (1858-59)
    • ballet Fjeldstuen (The Mountain Hut, or Twenty Years; 1859; co-written with his brother-in law Emil Hartmann). Winding wrote:
      • "Sæterpigernes Dands om det nydødbte Barn"
      • "Huldredands"
      • "Springdands"
  • Concertante
    • Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
    • Concert Allegro in C minor, Op. 29, for piano and orchestra
    • Violin Concerto
  • Chamber works
    • Piano Quartet, Op. 17
    • Three Fantasy Pieces, Op. 19, for clarinet or violin and piano (1872)
    • String Quintet in D, Op. 23 (2 violins, 2 violas, cello)[1]
    • 2 violin sonatas
  • piano pieces
    • Landlige Scener: Skizzer for Piano, Op. 9
    • Sommerminder, Op. 26 (?)
    • Preludes in all the Keys: A Cycle, Op. 26 (ded. Isidor Seiss):[5]
      • 1. in C major: Poco Adagio, maestoso e con nobilità
      • 2. in A minor: Allegro agitato ed affetuoso
      • 3. in F major: Comodo
      • 4. in D minor: Allegro risoluto e energico
      • 5. in B♭ major: Allegro non troppo. Giocoso, con allegrezza
      • 6. in G minor: Moderato con fierezza
      • 7. in E♭ major: Andante innocente e tenero
      • 8. in C minor: Presto impetuoso
      • 9. in A♭ major: Allegro non troppo con dolcezza
      • 10. in F minor: Allegro moderato, poco agitato
      • 11. in D♭ major: Con moto. Soave e con grazia
      • 12. in B♭ minor: Andantino quasi Allegretto, Grave e mesto
      • 13. in G♭ major: Allegro vivace con calore e molt’ animato
      • 14. in E♭ minor: Presto furioso e con strepito
      • 15. in B major: Allegretto tranquillo e dolce
      • 16. in G♯ minor: Allegretto dolente e malinconico
      • 17. in E major: Moderato grazioso e con tenerezza
      • 18. in C♯ minor: Allegro energico e molt’ appassionato
      • 19. in A major: Allegretto dolce e piacevole
      • 20. in F♯ minor: Andantino con duolo
      • 21. in D major: Allegro con vivacità ed anima
      • 22. in B minor: Adagio grave e lugubre
      • 23. in G major: Allegro molto con gran vivacità
      • 24. in E minor: Andante sostenuto, quasi una fantasia
      • 25. Postludium in C major: Poco Adagio, maestoso e con nobilità.
    • Trois Morceaux for left hand, Op. 27
    • studies
    • Cadenza for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major
    • Cadenza for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor
    • Transcription of a number of chorale preludes by Johann Sebastian Bach[6]
    • Piano reduction of Niels Gade's cantata Baldurs drøm[7]
  • songs and hymn tunes

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Edition Silvertrust
  2. ^ [1], Anton Rée, pianist, 1820-1886, in The Jewish Encyclopedia
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bach Cantatas
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Romantic Discoveries Recordings
  5. ^ "John Kersey". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  6. ^ Bach Cantatas
  7. ^ IMSLP

External links[]

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