Gade, Niels Vilhelm (1817–1890)

Danish composer. He was a violinist with the royal orchestra in Copenhagen before going to Leipzig, Germany, where he was engaged as assistant conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. After returning to Denmark he established a permanent orchestra and became co-director of Copenhagen's Academy of Music. He was the most important Danish composer of the 19th century.

His teachers included Andreas Berggreen and Christoph Weyse. Having won a composition prize for his Ossian overture in 1841, he was enabled to go to Leipzig for further study with a royal grant. There he came into contact with Mendelssohn, who produced his first symphony in 1843 and engaged him to conduct the Gewandhaus concerts in his absence. He returned to Copenhagen in 1848 and worked as organist, conductor, and teacher, becoming court music director in 1861.

Works Opera Mariotta (1849).

Cantatas Baldurs Drom (1858), Comala, Erl King's Daughter, Zion, The Crusaders, Den Bjaergtagne (1873), Psyche, and others.

Orchestral eight symphonies (1842–71); overtures Echoes from Ossian, In the Highland, Hamlet (after Shakespeare), Michelangelo, and others; suite Holbergiana for orchestra.

Chamber string quartet, quintet, string octet, piano trios, and other chamber music; four violin and piano sonatas; instrumental pieces; piano sonata in E minor and pieces for piano solo and duet.

Other songs, part songs.