Hans Christian Lumbye

Lumbye first studied music in Odense and Randers and early at the age of fourteen was playing trumpet in a military band. By the age of nineteen he continued his musical studies in Copenhagen and was impressed ten years later when he heard a Strauss and Lanner orchestra. Thereafter his compositions were predominantly associated with entertaining pieces like dances and fantasies. By 1840 he was conducting his own orchestra and performing his own works. Lumbye was quite successful in the initial performance of the Tivoli Gardens and served as its musical director unitl 1872. Lumbye was not only successful at conducting his own works but conducted symphonies and alien works to Denmark making several appearances throughout the country as well as in the cities of Paris, Vienna, Hamburg, Berlin, St Petersburg and Stockholm. ~ Keith Johnson