Publication Details

• First Published: Odeon, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 2-23.
• Details of the First Edition Score: The cover of the first edition score contains the following information:

"Introduction and Rondo on various beloved Danish motifs for the Pianoforte, composed by F. Kuhlau, Copenhagen's Charm, Op. 92, Copyright held by the editor, Price 1 Rigsdaler, 24 Skillings, 1 Thaler (1 Rigsdaler = 24 Skillings), C.C. Lose, Copenhagen."

The score is in landscape format, produced by engraving. An advertisement appeared in the August 5, 1828 issue of the Adressetidende, along with the text of a preview published in the July 26 issue of the same paper. The advertisement featured the following phrase: "The next issue will include F. Kuhlau's grand new brilliant Rondo, 'Copenhagen's Charm,' featuring well-known melodies by F. Kuhlau."

Context and Comparison with Similar Works

This work, positioned as a major rondo composed by Kuhlau, significantly differs from many other rondos titled "Charm of ~" after a city, in that it incorporates Danish melodies. Generally, works of this type are named after cities where the composer is thought to have stayed, but they do not directly quote melodies from that country. Similar works include the following, most of which are rondos:

• Moscheles: The Charm of Paris, Introduction and Brilliant Rondo, Op. 54, 1821
• Moscheles: The Charm of London, Brilliant Rondo, Op. 74
• Kalkbrenner: The Charm of Berlin, Op. 70
• Kalkbrenner: The Charm of Carlsbad, Op. 174 (for piano and orchestra)
• Czerny: The Charm of Baden, Rondo Pastorale, Op. 45
• J.P. Pixis: The Charm of Vienna, Op. 48
• Hünten: The Charm of Warsaw, Graceful Polonaise, Op. 3, 1821
• Carl Schwarz: Fantasy (=Variations) on Swedish Songs and Dances, Op. 18, 1830. Schwarz was a pupil of Kuhlau, and this work was composed inspired by his teacher's rondo.

Melodic Content of 'Copenhagen's Charm'

However, Kuhlau's 'Copenhagen's Charm' includes at least the following six melodies:

• Rudolph Bay: 'Danish Meadows with Green Embankments' (1823) (alluded to in mm. 17-20 and from m. 37 of this work).
• Weyse: 'Denmark, Holy Sounds,' 'Trichordium' (m. 85) (Trichordium refers to a melodic pattern consisting of three notes). These melodies appear within a long introduction spanning 175 measures. Weyse's 'Trichordium' is the second of two melodies set to lyrics by Juliane Marie Jessen, selected during a 'National Song' lyric competition held in 1820. It consists of only three notes: A, H (B natural), and C-sharp. Bay's melody is repeated after the three-note melody (m. 139). The rondo itself is introduced by Kuhlau's own melody (m. 176). The D minor theme features an unusual note, G-sharp (a tritone), and the leap to this note is also used in the rapid main section of the Overture to 'The Elf's Hill' (Elverhøj), which appeared later. Since this rondo bears similarities to the Overture to 'The Elf's Hill' in several places, it can be regarded as a kind of preliminary study. The second theme in F major (m. 237) is based on Weyse's 'Denmark, Holy Sounds,' as follows:
• Weyse: 'Denmark, Holy Sounds.' Here, the initial solemn march of the 'National Song' is quoted. Kuhlau used this piece as the theme for his piano variations, Op. 35, the year after its appearance. In this work, this melody is immediately varied and reappears in a major key in the same march style.
• H.E. Krøyer: 'Welcome to the Youth's Forest' (1822) (m. 342). This melody is only known from the song 'This winter is unusually cold' sung by the blacksmith's wife in Hostrup's comedy 'The Neighbors (Genboerne),' staged in 1844.
• Kuhlau's own melody, specifically the second theme of the Overture to the opera 'Lulu' (1824) (m. 395), followed by an even more dramatic section (from m. 408).
• The first four measures of 'King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast' (m. 491), followed by two measures of 'His Sword is Swiftly Struck,' appear from m. 513 before the impressive finale.