You probably know the melody, but do you know the composer?
Jacob Gade (1879-1963) claimed that he was inspired to write his immortal tango “Jalousie,” or “Jealousy,” after reading a sensational newspaper account of a crime of passion.
Gade was working in a cinema orchestra in Copenhagen at the time. The piece was first performed under the composer’s baton in 1925, at the Danish premiere of Douglas Fairbanks’ “Don Q, Son of Zorro.”
Published in Denmark, Paris, and New York, “Jalousie” became an international sensation, featured in countless radio broadcasts and at least 100 films. The royalties allowed Gade to devote himself exclusively to composition and to set up a foundation for young musicians.
The first recording of the work was made by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in 1935. Gade was so pleased with the result that he traveled all the way to Boston in order to thank Fiedler personally. While there, he took the opportunity to hand off the score for his new symphony. Many years later, Fiedler recollected that it was one of the worst pieces of music he ever looked at.
As someone who enjoys a spoonful of ghost pepper-infused honey with his morning tea, I got a mild kick out of this video. Even in Denmark, apparently, some like it hot.
