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
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann and was given piano lessons by
Carl Reinecke until the latter’s departure for Paris in 1848, and then by
Anton Rée (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]
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
Søllerød graveyard. He was survived by a daughter,
Ingeborg Winding (1871-1908), a painter and the mother of architects and designers
Mogens and
Flemming Lassen, and a son, Poul Andreas Winding (1877-1966), 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 (1864)
Concert Overture (published in 1885), Op. 14
Symphony in C minor, Op. 39, dedicated to
Emil Hartmann
Symphony (1858-59)
Ballet Fjeldstuen (The Mountain Hut, or Twenty Years; 1859; co-written with his brother-in law
Emil Hartmann). Winding wrote the first part, and among others:
"Sæterpigernes Dands om det nydødbte Barn"
"Huldredands"
"Springdands"
Concertante
Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 11 (created by
Wilhelmine Neruda on 2 March 1867 in Copenhagen)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Concert Allegro in C minor, Op. 29, for piano and orchestra
Chamber works
First Sonata for violin and piano, in g minor, Op. 5 (dedicated to
Wilhelmine Neruda)
Sonata for cello and piano, Op. 10 (1854, manuscript, dedicated to
J.P.E. Hartmann)
Piano Quartet in D major, Op. 17 (created at the Gewandhaus in
Leipzig)
Three Fantasy Pieces, Op. 19, for clarinet or violin and piano (1872)
Piano reduction of
Niels Gade's cantata Baldurs drøm[7]
Songs, Romances, Lieder and Hymns (among others Songs for one voice and piano Op. 2, Op. 3, Op. 4, Op. 8, Op.14, Op. 47 a, and Op. 50, and Songs for Choir and Orchestra, Op. 12)
Various other pieces for piano (two and four hands) (Frühlingsstimmung, Albumsblatt in E minor, Sonate facile et instructive, Valse-Impromptu, Ellen-Vals, Valse caractéristique, Romance et Valse mélancolique, Allegro non troppo)