Gade studied violin and composition in Copenhagen and published his first music in 1836. He went to Leipzig in 1843 on a grant and studied under Mendelssohn, who later that year conducted the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra in Gade's First Symphony. After Mendelssohn's death in 1847, Gade became the conductor of the orchestra and remained in that position until the outbreak of hostilities between Prussia and Denmark over the disputed territoy of Schleswig-Holstein. He was awarded a state pension by the Danish government and became the conductor of the Danish Musical Society in 1850. In 1866, he was appointed director of the Copenhagen Conservatory. Gade was a prolific composer whose works included eight symphonies, three ballets, a violin concerto, string quartet and a large number of choral pieces. Among his best-known works are the overtures, Echos from Ossian - Opus 1, In the Highlands and Hamlet. |
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