Lange-Müller, Peter Erasmus

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Lange-Müller, Peter Erasmus

Lange-Müller, Peter Erasmus, Danish composer; b. Frederiksberg, Dec. 1, 1850; d. Copenhagen, Feb. 26, 1926. He spent his entire life in Copenhagen. Following piano lessons from G. Matthison-Hansen, he pursued piano training at the Cons, with E. Neupert. He also studied political science at the Univ. In 1879 he became conductor of the Concert Soc, but ill health compelled him to withdraw from public life in 1883. Thereafter he devoted himself fully to composition. He developed a Romantic style à la Brahms and the French school, particularly excelling as a composer of songs.

Works

dramatic: opera (all first perf. in Copenhagen): love (Jan. 19, 1878); Spanske studenter (Oct. 21, 1883); Fru Jeanna (Feb. 4, 1891); Vikingeblod (April 29, 1900). other: Incidental music. orch.:Alhambm, suite (1875); 2 syms. (1879-81; 1889, rev. 1915); Weyerburg, suite (1894); Violin Concerto (1904). chamber: Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano; piano pieces.vocal: Some 200 songs.

Bibliography

J. Clausen, P.E. L.-M. (Copenhagen, 1938); H. Bonnen, P.E. L.-M. (Copenhagen, 1946).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire