Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Denmark

Birth

:

December 1, 1850 in Frederiksberg, Denmark

Death

:

February 26, 1926 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Peter Erasmus Lange-Müller was a Danish composer born on December 1, 1850, in Frederiksberg, Denmark. He was the son of a well-known composer, composer and music teacher, J.P.E. Hartmann, and his wife, Augusta Hartmann. Lange-Müller grew up in a musical family and was exposed to music from an early age. He began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano with his mother and later with his father. Lange-Müller's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he began composing at the age of 12. He studied composition with his father and later with Niels Gade, a prominent Danish composer. In 1871, Lange-Müller traveled to Germany to study with Franz Liszt in Weimar. He also studied with Friedrich Kiel in Berlin and with Carl Reinecke in Leipzig. Lange-Müller's early compositions were influenced by the Romantic style of his father and Niels Gade. However, his studies with Liszt and other German composers led him to develop a more modern and individual style. His music is characterized by its lyricism, harmonic richness, and emotional intensity. Lange-Müller's most famous work is his opera "Der var engang" (Once Upon a Time), which premiered in 1896. The opera is based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen and tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a princess who is under a spell. The opera was a great success and is still performed today. In addition to his opera, Lange-Müller composed a large number of songs, chamber music, and orchestral works. His song cycle "En Snes danske Viser" (A Dozen Danish Songs) is particularly well-known and includes some of his most beautiful and expressive music. Lange-Müller was also a respected music educator and served as a professor of composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music from 1889 until his retirement in 1920. He was a mentor to many young Danish composers, including Carl Nielsen. Lange-Müller's music is an important part of the Danish classical music tradition and is still performed and recorded today. His lyrical and emotional style continues to resonate with audiences and his contributions to Danish music are widely recognized. He died on February 26, 1926, in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the age of 75.

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