Jacob Gade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jacob Gade
Commemorative Plaque in Vejle
Born	Jacob Thune Hansen Gade 29. November 1979 Vejle, Denmark
Died	20. February 1963
Occupation	Composer Violinist Conductor

Jacob Thune Hansen Gade (born November 29, 1879 – died February 20, 1963) was a Danish musician. He was a talented violinist and a composer. He is most famous for his popular orchestral song called Jalousie. This song is also known as Jalousie "Tango Tzigane" or Tango Jalousie.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Jacob Gade was born in Vejle, Denmark. He came from a family of musicians. His grandfather and father often played music for parties in nearby villages. It was natural for Jacob to start playing music from a young age and join his family's group.

Jacob was only nine years old when he first performed as a trumpeter. He was so good that a year later, he was invited to Copenhagen. There, he became a soloist in the orchestra at the Tivoli Garden, a famous amusement park. When he was 12, he started learning the violin. First, his father taught him, and later, he learned from more experienced teachers. Jacob was very ambitious and wanted to be a recognized musician. So, he decided to move to the capital city.

It's important to know that Jacob Gade was not related to another famous composer named Niels W. Gade.

Becoming a Composer

Jacob Gade started by composing country music and polkas. He didn't have much money, but he was determined to follow his dreams. He wanted to become an orchestra conductor and write waltzes, which he thought were the best kind of music. He had a tough start, sometimes sleeping in building entrances.

He began working in small cafes. When he was just 18, he started playing at an operetta in Frederiksberg, a popular entertainment spot. In 1900, his first song was published. It was a toast song called “Der er sollys i modne druer” (There is sunshine in ripe grapes). This song became very popular. He later married Mimi Mikkelsen and they lived together until she passed away in 1951.

Leading Orchestras

Jacob Gade joined several orchestras. By 1903, he was leading his own orchestra. He focused on creating and sharing dance music. In 1909, his work was so well-known that he was hired by the famous Hotel Bristol in Copenhagen. To improve his musical skills, he studied with maestro Max Schlüler, an important concert player. Jacob was 30 years old, which was considered too old to become a classical concert musician. This was also why he hadn't been accepted into the Royal Conservatory of Danish Music earlier.

In 1914, he started leading orchestras that played in theaters. He also led orchestras that provided music for silent films in important movie theaters. At the same time, he performed as a solo violinist, even playing a piece by the famous composer Paganini. During this period, he wrote many waltzes with French titles. He used several different names for his compositions, like Maurice Ribot and James Wellington. He believed these names helped him become known internationally. People in the city even called him the "king of waltz." His childhood dream was coming true!

In 1919, Jacob Gade traveled to New York. He joined orchestras that played in movie theaters. He also put together large groups of musicians, sometimes with up to 80 members. Soon, he had another great achievement: he was chosen to join the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York. For two years, he focused only on playing classical music.

He returned to Denmark to lead the orchestra at the Palads Cinema theater. He composed and arranged music to be played during movies. It was around this time that he composed “Jalousie.” The story goes that he was on a break near a windmill when he read a newspaper story that inspired the melody.

His most successful period lasted until 1929, when movies with sound became popular. But this didn't stop him much. In 1931, he opened the National Scala theater, where he continued to play entertainment music for dancing. He eventually decided to end his career as an orchestra leader and performer for live audiences.

The Worldwide Hit: Jalousie

Jacob Gade's song Jalousie became a huge hit around the world. It was first played on September 14, 1925. This was at the premiere of the American movie Don Q. Son of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks. The song made Denmark famous on the world music map. The money he earned from Jalousie was so much that in the 1970s, it was thought that the song was played on the radio at least once every minute somewhere on Earth!

After Jalousie, Jacob Gade focused only on composing music. He retired to a country house. There, he wrote other pieces like Rhapsodietta and another tango called Romanesca. These were published in Copenhagen and Paris. He returned to the United States in 1939, where he was offered a deal to publish all his music.

On April 8, 1940, he came back to Denmark. The very next day, the Nazis invaded Denmark. He dealt with this by moving to Fiskerleje Island, where he continued to compose. A successful waltz called Capricious was born there. He also wrote other tangos, including El matador and Tango Glamour.

Jalousie was originally an instrumental song (without words). But later, people in different countries added lyrics to it. The song was used in over 100 movies and many television shows. It was also played on all new types of music players as they appeared.

Jacob Gade's Legacy

When Jacob Gade wrote his will in 1956, he made a special wish. He wanted all his money and future earnings from his music to go to a foundation. This foundation would be created in his name to help young, talented musicians. He explained his reason: "I still remember the financial and educational difficulties I had when I was young, when I arrived in Copenhagen with the purpose of making a living with music."

He started the foundation with a deposit of 100,000 Danish Kroner. Every year, the foundation holds a competition for young violinists in Gade's hometown. On November 8, 1970, a postage stamp was issued to celebrate 100 years since his birth.

There is a special version of “Jalousie” arranged for a woodwind quintet. It was first played in June 1992 at Elsinore Castle. This was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Queen Margaret of Denmark becoming queen.

Recordings of His Music

In 1998, Dacapo Recordings released an album featuring some of Jacob Gade's works. Some of these songs had never been heard before. The Odense Symphonic Orchestra performed them. Critics were surprised, saying, "It is incredible that such good, unknown music has been hidden because of the popularity of 'Jalousie'."

Jalousie was written to go along with the silent movie Son of Zorro. It premiered on September 14, 1925, and quickly became a worldwide hit. When movies with sound came out, Jalousie was featured in many films.

The money from Jalousie allowed Jacob Gade to compose music full-time for the rest of his life. The famous conductor Arthur Fiedler made the first recording of the song with the Boston Pops orchestra in 1935. This made Gade even more money. Today, the money from his music still helps fund the foundation for young musicians.

See also

In Spanish: Jacob Gade para niños