Kuhlau, Friedrich 1786 - 1832
Author: Asayama, Natsuko
Last updated：May 1, 2007
Author: Asayama, Natsuko
A German-born composer who later emigrated to Denmark. He studied music in Hamburg and began his career as a pianist, but fled to Copenhagen during Napoleon's invasion in 1810, spending the rest of his life in the Nordic countries. In Copenhagen, he obtained the position of Royal Chamber Musician and composed operas. As a pianist, he toured the Scandinavian countries, gaining many pupils, especially among the Swedish aristocracy. He met Beethoven during a visit to Vienna in 1825. In 1828, he was awarded an honorary professorship in Copenhagen.
His piano and flute works are particularly notable. In his sonatinas, despite their small scale and lack of demand for advanced technical skill, the simple yet flowing melodies create a brilliant effect. In his three-movement sonatas, the nuances of timbre and emotional expression in the slow movements reveal characteristics of early Romanticism.
Works(163)
Concerto (1)
concerto (2)
Piano Solo (15)
sonata (13)
rondo (10)
sonatina (4)
variation (16)
Variations, on the Norwegian air "God dag, Rasmus Hansen" Op.15
Key: a-moll Playing time: 7 min 30 sec
Variations, on the Danish folksong "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast" Op.16
Key: D-Dur Playing time: 8 min 50 sec
VARIATIONENE für Klavier über 3 Themen aus C. M. von Weber's "Euryanthe" Op.62
Playing time: 12 min 00 sec
waltz (8)
other dances (5)
divertimento (2)
march (4)
Paraphrase (1)
Variations pour le fortepiano sur le Romance du PRISONNER; Lorsque dans une tour obscure DF. 199
Composed in: 1804 Playing time: 7 min 40 sec
Reduction/Arrangement (15)
La clochette. Rondo für Klavier über Paganini Op.121
Key: a-moll,fis-moll Playing time: 9 min 20 sec
Various works (2)
Piano Ensemble (8)
sonata (8)
rondo (3)
sonatina (4)
variation (15)
waltz (4)
Various works (6)
Chamber Music (4)
sonata (3)
variation (1)
6 Variationen für Fl. und Klavier über C. M. von Weber's “Euryanthe” Op. 63
Playing time: 14 min 10 sec
Various works (2)
Chamber music (2)
Lied (1)
Various works (27)