The final royal anthem of the singspiel Elverhøj, set to the text Kong Christian stod ved høien Mast, remains the most enduring contribution Friedrich Kuhlau made to Danish cultural history. Born in 1786, this composer, pianist, and musicologist navigated the transitional period between late Classical and early Romantic styles while establishing his career within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Early Development and Migration
Born in Uelzen in 1786, Kuhlau was raised by parents who managed to provide piano lessons despite their financial hardship. His early exposure to music was rooted in familial tradition, as his father, grandfather, and uncle were military oboists. At age seven, he lost his right eye following a fall on ice. By 1802, he moved to Hamburg to pursue formal piano studies under C.F.G. Schwencke. In 1810, he relocated to Copenhagen to escape the threat of conscription into the Napoleonic Army, ultimately obtaining Danish citizenship in 1813.
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Kuhlau established himself in the Danish capital as a pianist, composer, and teacher. In 1812, he was appointed a non-salaried musician at the Danish Court. By 1816, he secured a position as a singing teacher at the Royal Theater, a role resulting from the successful reception of his singspiel, The Robber's Castle. Though he held academic standing, including an honorary professorship awarded in 1828, he faced professional setbacks with works like The Magic Harp, which suffered due to a controversial libretto.
Artistic Legacy and Beethovenian Influence
Though he never played the instrument himself, Kuhlau achieved enduring recognition for his extensive flute compositions, earning the moniker the Beethoven of the flute. He maintained a personal acquaintance with Ludwig van Beethoven, whom he met during visits to Vienna in 1821 and 1825. This relationship heavily influenced his musical output, as seen in his 1810 Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 7. His legacy persists through over 200 published works, even after a house fire destroyed his unpublished manuscripts.
Fast facts
- Born: 1786, Uelzen
- Died: 1832, Copenhagen
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Hanover, Kingdom of Denmark
- Burial: Assistens Cemetery
- Occupations: Composer, pianist, violinist, flautist, musicologist
- Major work: Elverhøj
Questions readers ask
Did Kuhlau play the flute?
No, despite writing numerous works for the flute, he was not a flautist himself.
Why is the Elverhøj overture famous in modern media?
It was used as a prominent soundtrack for a heist sequence in the 1976 film The Olsen Gang Sees Red.
Achievements
- Instruments: piano and Western concert flute
- Genres: opera
