Elverhøj
Danish composer
Definition
The Hill of the Elves — Kuhlau's incidental music for Johan Ludvig Heiberg's play (Op. 100, 1828), which became Denmark's de facto national opera. It incorporates folk melodies alongside Kuhlau's own compositions. The overture and several of its songs remain among the most beloved pieces in the Danish musical canon.
Interpretive Guidance
Elverhøj is the work for which Kuhlau is best remembered in Denmark. Its folk-influenced themes appear in simplified piano arrangements and in the overture, which is a useful concert piece. The hybrid folk–Classical style here anticipates the nationalist school that Gade and Hartmann would develop more fully.