August Winding

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 was his son's first music teacher. August had piano lessons with Carl Reinecke in Copenhagen 1847, and from 1848 to 1851 he studied the piano there with Anton Rée (1820-1886),[2] who had been an acquaintance of Frédéric Chopin; as well as theory and composition with Niels Gade.[3][4] In 1856 he had further study in Leipzig, and had lessons with Alexander Dreyschock in Prague.[4]

Pianist

His public career was originally as a pianist; he 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 privately.[4]

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] However, he resumed his pedagogical activity at the conservatorium in 1881. 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 Søllerød graveyard. He was survived by two daughters, Far til Ingeborg Winding, a painter and the mother of designers Mogens and Flemming Lassen, and 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
    • 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. Edition Silvertrust
  2. , Anton Rée, pianist, 1820-1886, in The Jewish Encyclopedia
  3. Bach Cantatas
  4. Romantic Discoveries Recordings
  5. John Kersey
  6. Bach Cantatas
  7. IMSLP
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