Niels Wilhelm Gade (Feb. 22, 1817 - Dec. 21, 1890) born in Copenhagen, was the son of an instrument maker. Gade, a violinist, composer, and conductor, started his career with the Royal Danish Orchestra as a violinist, and was able to see compositions of his played by the orchestra. Felix Mendelssohn was an early champion of Gade's work, and they became close associates. Robert Schumann was a good friend as well, and the influence of the significant composers of the German Romantic style (Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn) can be heard in his works. Gade went on to influence other composers himself, such as Edvard Grieg and Carl Nielsen. Gade is considered one of the most important Danish composers, though we sadly don't see his works programmed frequently.

Echoes of Ossian, an overture, was Gade's first important work, and it won a prize from the Copenhagen Musical Society. Inspired by a Danish poem about a magic bird, it starts with a soft and slow introduction, with the main theme in a minor key. The melody is based on a Danish folksong, and is woven throughout, and takes on many different keys, rhythms, and goes through many different instrumentations. Gade has no problem grasping a  sense of drama and gravitas in his compositions, and that coupled with a gift for lyricism (much like those he was influenced by), makes for a very satisfying overture!

Here are some recordings of this beautiful work for you to enjoy!

Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Royal Danish Orchestra
The Sounds of Scandinavia