Role

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Composer

Genre

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Choral

 

Carl C. N. Balle was a Danish composer born on October 4, 1855, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Carl Balle, was a well-known composer and conductor in Denmark, and his mother, Johanne Marie, was a pianist. Balle showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and composition at a young age. Balle's musical education began at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where he studied piano with Niels Gade and composition with Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann. He later continued his studies in Berlin with Friedrich Kiel and in Paris with Jules Massenet. Balle's early compositions were influenced by the Romantic style of his teachers, but he later developed his own unique style that blended elements of Romanticism with Danish folk music. Balle's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1883. The symphony was well-received and established Balle as a promising young composer. He went on to compose several more symphonies, including Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1890 and Symphony No. 3, which was premiered in 1902. In addition to his symphonies, Balle composed a number of chamber works, including string quartets, piano trios, and sonatas. His chamber music is characterized by its lyrical melodies and rich harmonies. One of his most famous chamber works is his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered in 1887. Balle also composed several operas, including The King's Ring, which was premiered in 1896. The opera was based on a Danish folk tale and was a critical and commercial success. Balle went on to compose several more operas, including The Witch, which was premiered in 1902. Balle's music was well-regarded in Denmark and he was awarded several honors during his lifetime, including the Order of the Dannebrog and the title of Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog. He was also a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Balle died on March 20, 1926, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His legacy as a composer lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and recorded today.

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