Jalousie “Tango Tzigane” (Jealousy “Gypsy Tango”) – Jacob Gade

Jalousie “Tango Tzigane” (Jealousy “Gypsy Tango”) by Jacob Gade

The Danish composer Jacob Gade completed this short orchestral work in 1925. The piece was written to serve as musical accompaniment to the Danish premiere of the silent film “Don Q, Son of Zorro”, which took place in September of 1925. While there had been previous examples of music composed specifically for film, Gade wrote this work only for the Danish premiere due to being the conductor of the Palads Cinema orchestra in Copenhagen.

Gade would say of the work that it was based on a newspaper article he read regarding a horrifying murder inspired by jealousy, hence the title of ‘Jealousy’. Gade would also add the suffix ‘Gyspy Tango’ in reference to the virtuoso introduction to the work performed on a solo violin.

The tango was well received, and subsequently performed in radio broadcasts and used in several other movies. In 1935 the first recording was made by the Boston Pops Orchestra. The success of the work resulted in significant royalties for Gade, which allowed him to create the ‘Jacob Gade Legat’ charity to assist young and upcoming Danish musicians.

This work is comprised of a single movement.