Peter Mandrup Lem
Encyclopedia
Peter Mandrup Lem was an eighteenth-century Danish
violin
virtuoso
. Among his few compositions always mentioned by his contemporaries are his both symphonies
, violin concertos, piano pieces and an oratorio
, although none of them is known to be preserved.
, of whom he became a pupil. As a twelve-year-old child he could perform "even the most difficult concertos and solos, not without admiration from those who listened to him", which was read in the Adresseavisen
after the boy had had his debut as soloist and member of Det musikalske Selskab at a concert in Rådhusstræde (City Hall Street) on 1 February 1770.
The following year he was admitted to the Royal Chapel and traveled with royal subsidy
abroad to seek further education, staying especially in Vienna
and Italy
, and returned to Copenhagen in 1783. On 11 February 1784 he gave a concert at the Royal Danish Theatre
, where he received tumultuous applause for his extraordinary skill, his tasteful performance, particularly in the adagio, and his uncommonly elegant bowing. In 1785 he began teaching violin playing in the Chapel, succeeding Hartmann in 1793 as concert master, an honor which at the time was very rare. Shortly after that he was appointed professor.
player and leader of Det harmoniske Selskab. He made large profits as a concertist and also as a teacher to his young students.
From his public activities he drew back relatively early, by reason of infirmity spending his last years in seclusion. He died in Copenhagen on 12 January 1828, leaving his spouse Regina, Countess Magliani, widow. She survived him by 4 years (d. 23 May 1832). His compositions are only a few, among them a violin concerto and two symphonies written for his 1784 concert, and an oratorio: Christ Church, written for his 1785 Violin Concerto. Published in Vienna and in his native land is only his 12 Minuets for small orchestra written in 1784. He played for the last time in 1811.
Danes
Danish people or Danes are the nation and ethnic group that is native to Denmark, and who speak Danish.The first mention of Danes within the Danish territory is on the Jelling Rune Stone which mentions how Harald Bluetooth converted the Danes to Christianity in the 10th century...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
. Among his few compositions always mentioned by his contemporaries are his both symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, violin concertos, piano pieces and an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, although none of them is known to be preserved.
Life
Peter Lem received his first education from his father, John L., accountant for Skillings-Ligkassenthen, and Kirstine, nee Tonnesen. Still as a child he drew the attention of concert master Johann HartmannJohann Hartmann
Johann Hartmann was a Danish composer. Two of his sons were composers, Johan Ernst Hartmann and August Wilhelm Hartmann...
, of whom he became a pupil. As a twelve-year-old child he could perform "even the most difficult concertos and solos, not without admiration from those who listened to him", which was read in the Adresseavisen
Adresseavisen
Adresseavisen is a regional newspaper published daily, except Sundays, in Trondheim, Norway. It is an independent, conservative newspaper with a daily circulation of approximately 85,000. It is also informally known as Adressa. The newspaper covers the areas of Trøndelag and Nordmøre.Adresseavisen...
after the boy had had his debut as soloist and member of Det musikalske Selskab at a concert in Rådhusstræde (City Hall Street) on 1 February 1770.
The following year he was admitted to the Royal Chapel and traveled with royal subsidy
Subsidy
A subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
abroad to seek further education, staying especially in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and returned to Copenhagen in 1783. On 11 February 1784 he gave a concert at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
, where he received tumultuous applause for his extraordinary skill, his tasteful performance, particularly in the adagio, and his uncommonly elegant bowing. In 1785 he began teaching violin playing in the Chapel, succeeding Hartmann in 1793 as concert master, an honor which at the time was very rare. Shortly after that he was appointed professor.
Legacy
Lem's importance for the development of live concerts in Copenhagen was very significant and groundbreaking in several directions, not only as a virtuoso and soloist, but also as a chamber musicChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
player and leader of Det harmoniske Selskab. He made large profits as a concertist and also as a teacher to his young students.
From his public activities he drew back relatively early, by reason of infirmity spending his last years in seclusion. He died in Copenhagen on 12 January 1828, leaving his spouse Regina, Countess Magliani, widow. She survived him by 4 years (d. 23 May 1832). His compositions are only a few, among them a violin concerto and two symphonies written for his 1784 concert, and an oratorio: Christ Church, written for his 1785 Violin Concerto. Published in Vienna and in his native land is only his 12 Minuets for small orchestra written in 1784. He played for the last time in 1811.