Champagne Galop is perhaps Lumbye's most famous and popular piece. It traditionally forms the finale of every gala night at Tivoli in Copenhagen. It was written for the Birthday festival of Tivoli in 1854. Champagne Galop is a kind of programme music, in the first bars (of the orchestra version) one hears the pop of a champagne cork. Hans Christian Lumbye, (1810 - 74), Danish composer and conductor. Lumbye was one of most important names in Danish 19th century music. He created the kind of light entertainment musical tradition, which is now associated with Tivoli in Copenhagen. He was chief conductor and leader of the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra from 1843 to 1872. As a composer he was influenced by Viennese music and especially by Strauss. Lumbye composed over 600 pieces, many of them are typical of his time (polkas, marches, waltzes).
