August Henrik Winding was born inTårs, nearSandby on the island ofLolland.[1] His father was a clergyman who collected and arranged Danish folk songs, and also an excellent pianist who became his son's first music teacher. August’s three brothers were equally highly musical, most of all his brother Peter Buonaventura who, despite his early death at the age of 16, had some of his works published. In 1847, August’s parents sent the 12 year old to Copenhagen for musical education. He stayed there at the house ofJohan Peter Emilius Hartmann and was given piano lessons byCarl Reinecke until the latter’s departure for Paris in 1848, and then byAnton Rée (1820-1886),[2] who had been an acquaintance ofFrédéric Chopin. He also was taught theory and composition byNiels Gade.[3][4] In 1856 he went toLeipzig for further studies, and then had lessons withAlexander Dreyschock inPrague.[4] who called him «the best of his pupils hitherto».
His public career was originally as a pianist; he became rapidly the leading pianist of his days in Denmark, but also played in many countries of Europe, specialising inBeethoven andMozart.[3] His "calling card" was Beethoven's4th Piano Concerto.[4]
In 1867 he injured his arm through overwork, which forced his retirement as a performer but also enabled him to devote himself to composing.[4] In 1881, he resumed his pedagogical activity at the conservatorium. Between 1888 and his death he gave some further concerts.[4]
August Winding died in 1899 inCopenhagen, aged 64. He is buried inSøllerød graveyard. He was survived by a daughter,Ingeborg Winding (1871-1908), a painter and the mother of architects and designersMogens andFlemming Lassen, and a son, Poul Andreas Winding (1877-1966), a violinist.
Symphony in C minor, Op. 39, dedicated toEmil Hartmann
Symphony (1858-59)
BalletFjeldstuen (The Mountain Hut, or Twenty Years; 1859; co-written with his brother-in lawEmil Hartmann). Winding wrote the first part, and among others:
"Sæterpigernes Dands om det nydødbte Barn"
"Huldredands"
"Springdands"
Concertante
Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 11 (created byWilhelmine Neruda on 2 March 1867 in Copenhagen)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Concert Allegro in C minor, Op. 29, for piano and orchestra
Chamber works
First Sonata for violin and piano, in g minor, Op. 5 (dedicated toWilhelmine Neruda)
Sonata for cello and piano, Op. 10 (1854, manuscript, dedicated toJ.P.E. Hartmann)
Piano Quartet in D major, Op. 17 (created at theGewandhaus inLeipzig)
Three Fantasy Pieces, Op. 19, for clarinet or violin and piano (1872)
Piano reduction ofNiels Gade's cantataBaldurs drøm[7]
Songs, Romances, Lieder and Hymns (among others Songs for one voice and piano Op. 2, Op. 3, Op. 4, Op. 8, Op.14, Op. 47 a, and Op. 50, and Songs for Choir and Orchestra, Op. 12)
Various other pieces for piano (two and four hands) (Frühlingsstimmung, Albumsblatt in E minor, Sonate facile et instructive, Valse-Impromptu, Ellen-Vals, Valse caractéristique, Romance et Valse mélancolique, Allegro non troppo)
