Carl Nielsen
Late Romantic · 1865–1931
Carl Nielsen came from a poor family on the Danish island of Funen, one of twelve children of a house painter who played fiddle at village dances. As a teenager he played trumpet in a military band, then won a place at the Copenhagen conservatory and spent years earning his living as a violinist in the Royal Danish Orchestra while composing on the side.
Denmark came to regard him as its national composer. His six symphonies are the core of his work: muscular, optimistic music that often stages a battle between order and chaos, most famously in the Fourth, which he named The Inextinguishable after the life force he believed music expressed. His concertos for flute and for clarinet give each instrument a vivid, sometimes cranky personality.
Start with the Symphony no. 4, The Inextinguishable, then try the Flute Concerto for his wit at closer range.
93 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- String Quartet in F, FS36, op. 44, "Piacevolezza"
- Violin Sonata no. 2 in G minor, FS64, op. 35
- Wind Quintet, FS100, op. 43
- 2 Fantasy Pieces, FS8, op. 2, for oboe and piano
- 5 Movements, for string quartet, FS3c
- Allegretto, for 2 recorders in F major, FS157
- Canto serioso, for horn and piano, FS132
- Duet for 2 violins in A major, FS3e
- Fantasy Piece, for clarinet and piano in G minor, FS3h
- Piano Trio in G major, FS3i
- Praeludium og Tema med Variationer, for violin, FS104, op. 48
- Preludio e presto, for violin solo, FS128, op. 52
- Serenata in vano, for clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello, and double bass, FS68
- String Quartet in D minor, FS3d
- String Quartet in E flat major, FS23, op. 14
- String Quartet in F major, FS3k
- String Quartet in F minor, FS11, op. 5
- String Quartet in G minor, FS4, op. 13
- String Quintet in G major, FS5
- Tågen Letter, for flute and harp
- Ved en ung kunstners baare, for string quartet and double bass, FS58
- Violin Sonata in A major, FS20, op. 9
- Violin Sonata no. 1 in G major, FS3b
Keyboard
- Commotio, for organ, op. 58
- Den Luciferiske, suite for piano, FS91, op. 45
- 2 Preludes, for organ, FS137
- 3 Pieces for Piano, FS131, op. 59
- 5 Pieces for Piano, FS10, op. 3
- 6 Humoresque-bagatelles, FS22, op. 11
- 29 små praeludier, for organ, FS136, op. 51
- Chaconne, op. 32
- Drømmen om Glade Jul, FS34
- Festival Prelude: At the Turn of the Century, FS24
- Klaverstykke in C major, FS159
- Piano Music for Young and Old, FS148, op. 53
- Symfonisk Suite, FS19, op. 8
- Tema med variationer, FS81, op. 40
Orchestral
- Clarinet Concerto, FS129, op. 57
- Flute Concerto, FS119
- Pan and Syrinx, FS87, op. 49
- Saga Dream, FS46, op. 39
- Symphony no. 2, FS29, op. 16, "The 4 Temperaments"
- Symphony no. 3, FS60, op. 27, "Sinfonia espansiva"
- Symphony no. 4, FS76, op. 29, "The Inextinguishable"
- Symphony no. 5, FS97, op. 50
- Symphony no. 6, FS116, "Sinfonia semplice"
- Violin Concerto, FS61, op. 33
- Aladdin, FS89, op. 34 Incidental music
- Amor og Digteren, FS150, op. 54 Incidental music
- Andante tranquillo e Scherzo, for string orchestra, FS310
- Bohemian-Danish Folk Tune, paraphrase for string orchestra, FS130
- Cosmus, FS98 Incidental music
- En Aften paa Giske, FS9 Incidental music
- Helios, FS32, op. 17
- Herr Oluf han rider, FS37 Incidental music
- Little Suite in A minor, FS6, op. 1
- Moderen, FS 94, op. 41 Incidental music
- Overture to Maskarade, FS39
- Paraphrase on 'Naermere Gud til dig', for winds, FS63
- Rhapsody Overture 'En fantasirejse til Faeroene', FS123
- Symphonic Rhapsody in F major, FS7
- Symphony no. 1 in G minor, FS16, op. 7
- Tove, FS43 Incidental music
- Willemoes, FS44 Incidental music
Stage
- Maskarade, FS39 Opera
- Saul og David, FS25 Opera
- Snefrid, FS17 Melodrama
Vocal
- 3 Motetter, FS139, op. 55
- 6 Songs of Ludvig Holstein, FS18, op. 10
- 7 Strophic Songs, FS42, op. 21
- Aftenstemning, for male chorus, FS48
- En snes danske vise, Vol.1, FS70
- En snes danske vise, Vol.2, FS78
- Fem Digte, FS12, op. 4
- Forunderligt at sige, FS83, no. 1
- Fynsk foraar, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, FS96, op. 42
- Förunderligt och märkligt, for chorus
- Hjemlige Jul, FS108
- Hyldest til Holberg, for soloists, chorus and orchestra, FS102
- Hymnus amoris, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, FS21, op. 12
- Jeg ved en Lærkerede, FS114, no. 1
- Kantate til Grosserersocietetet, FS 86
- Kantate ved Landsudstillingen i Århus, for chorus and orchestra, FS54
- Kantate ved Universitetets Aarsfest, for chorus and orchestra, FS47, op. 24
- Mit hjerte altid vanker, for chorus
- Prelude no. 1; Der er en Vej
- Prologen ved Mindefesten for Shakespeare, FS80
- Selv naar Tordenen tynger, "Ariel's Song"
- Solen er saa rød, mor, FS114 no. 2
- Studie efter naturen, FS82
- Søvnen, for chorus and orchestra, FS33, op. 18
- Tyve folkelige melodier FS95
- Viser og vers FS14, op. 6
Related composers
Keep a listening journal.
Opus is free on the App Store.
