View source for Carl Nielsen

{{short description|Danish composer (1865–1931)}}
{{other uses}}
{{featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Carl Nielsen
| image              = Carl Nielsen c. 1908 - Restoration.jpg
| caption            = Nielsen, {{c.|1908}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1865|06|09|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Sortelung]], Denmark
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1931|10|03|1865|06|09|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Copenhagen]], Denmark
| works              = [[List of compositions by Carl Nielsen|List of compositions]]
| occupation         = Composer, conductor, and violinist
| signature          = Carl Nielsen Signature.svg
| signature_size     = 210px
}}

'''Carl August Nielsen''' ({{IPA|da|ˈkʰɑˀl ˈne̝lsn̩|lang}}; 9 June 1865 – 3 October 1931) was a Danish composer, conductor, and violinist, widely recognized as his country's most prominent composer.

Brought up by poor yet musically talented parents on the island of [[Funen]], he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age. He initially played in a military band before attending the [[Royal Danish Academy of Music]] in Copenhagen from 1884 until December 1886. He premiered his [[Opus number|Op]]. 1, ''[[Suite for String Orchestra (Nielsen)|Suite for Strings]]'', in 1888, at the age of 23. The following year, Nielsen began a 16-year stint as a second violinist in the [[Royal Danish Orchestra]] under the conductor [[Johan Svendsen]], during which he played in Verdi's ''[[Falstaff (opera)|Falstaff]]'' and ''[[Otello]]'' at their Danish premieres. In 1916, he took a post teaching at the Royal Danish Academy and continued to work there until his death.

Although his symphonies, concertos and choral music are now internationally acclaimed, Nielsen's career and personal life were marked by many difficulties, often reflected in his music. The works he composed between 1897 and 1904 are sometimes ascribed to his "psychological" period, resulting mainly from a turbulent marriage with the sculptor [[Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen|Anne Marie Brodersen]]. Nielsen is especially noted for his six symphonies, his [[Wind Quintet (Nielsen)|Wind Quintet]] and his concertos for [[Violin Concerto (Nielsen)|violin]], [[Flute Concerto (Nielsen)|flute]] and [[Clarinet Concerto (Nielsen)|clarinet]]. In Denmark, his opera ''[[Maskarade]]'' and many of his songs have become an integral part of the national heritage. His early music was inspired by composers such as [[Johannes Brahms]] and [[Edvard Grieg]], but he soon developed his own style, first experimenting with [[progressive tonality]] and later diverging even more radically from the standards of composition still common at the time. Nielsen's sixth and final symphony, ''[[Symphony No. 6 (Nielsen)|Sinfonia semplice]]'', was written in 1924–25. He died from a heart attack six years later, and is buried in [[Vestre Cemetery]], Copenhagen.

Nielsen maintained the reputation of a musical outsider during his lifetime, both in his own country and internationally. It was only later that his works firmly entered the international repertoire, accelerating in popularity from the 1960s through [[Leonard Bernstein]] and others. In Denmark, Nielsen's reputation was sealed in 2006 when four of his works were [[Danish Culture Canon|listed by the Danish Ministry of Culture]] amongst the greatest pieces of Danish classical music. For many years, he appeared on the Danish [[Banknotes of Denmark, 1997 series|hundred-kroner banknote]]. The [[Carl Nielsen Museum]] in Odense documents his life and that of his wife. Between 1994 and 2009 the [[Royal Danish Library]], sponsored by the Danish government, completed the ''[[Carl Nielsen Edition]]'', freely available online, containing background information and sheet music for all of Nielsen's works, many of which had not been previously published.

== Life ==

=== Early years ===
[[File:20110101 Carl Nielsen home cropped.jpg|thumb|alt=photograph of a thatched country cottage|Nielsen's childhood home at [[Sortelung]] near Nørre Lyndelse]]
Nielsen was born on 9 June 1865, the seventh of twelve children in a poor peasant family, at [[Sortelung]] near Nørre Lyndelse, south of [[Odense]] on the island of Funen.<ref>{{cite book |first=S. A. E. |last=Hagen |editor-first=Carl Frederik |editor-last=Bricka |chapter=Nielsen, August Carl |title=Dansk Biografisk Leksikon |volume=12 |pages=213–214 |year=1898}}</ref> His father, Niels Jørgensen, was a house painter and [[Danish traditional music|traditional musician]] who, with his abilities as a fiddler and cornet player, was in strong demand for local celebrations. Nielsen described his childhood in his autobiography {{lang|da|[[Min Fynske Barndom]]}} (''My Childhood on Funen''). His mother, whom he recalls singing folk songs during his childhood, came from a well-to-do family of sea captains,{{sfn|Lawson|1997|p=16}} while one of his half-uncles, Hans Andersen, was a talented musician.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/funen-childhood.php|title=Funen Childhood|publisher=Carl Nielsen Society|access-date=21 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414015242/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/funen-childhood.php|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Larsen|2015}}

Nielsen gave an account of his introduction to music: "I had heard music before, heard father play the violin and cornet, heard mother singing, and, when in bed with the measles, I had tried myself out on the little violin."{{sfn|Nielsen|1953|p=23}} He had received the instrument from his mother when he was six.<ref name=earlyyears /> He studied violin and piano as a child, and wrote his earliest compositions at the age of eight or nine: a lullaby, now lost, and a polka that he mentions in his autobiography. As his parents did not believe he had any future as a musician, they apprenticed him to a shopkeeper in a nearby village when he was fourteen. The shopkeeper went bankrupt by midsummer and Nielsen had to return home. After learning to play [[brass instrument]]s, on 1 November 1879 he became a [[bugle (instrument)|bugler]] and [[alto trombone|alto trombonist]] in the band of the army's 16th Battalion in Odense.<ref name="mmio" />

Nielsen did not give up the violin during his time with the battalion, continuing to play it when he went home to perform at dances with his father.<ref name="mmio" /> The army paid him three [[Danish krone|kroner]] and 45 [[øre]] and a loaf of bread every five days for two and a half years, after which his salary was raised slightly, enabling him to buy the civilian clothes he needed to perform at barn dances.<ref name=earlyyears>{{cite web |title=The Early Years |work=Carl Nielsen 2015 |date=6 May 2014 |url=http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/man-myth-and-music/the-early-years |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518122257/http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/man-myth-and-music/the-early-years |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Studies and early career ===
[[File:Carl Nielsen - 1879.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|alt=photograph of young Nielsen in band parade uniform with two brass instruments|Nielsen, aged about 14, in Odense, 1879]]
In 1881, at the age of 16, Nielsen began to take his violin playing more seriously, studying privately under Carl Larsen, the [[Sexton (office)|sexton]] at [[Odense Cathedral]]. It is not known how much Nielsen composed during this period, but from his autobiography, it can be deduced that he wrote some trios and quartets for brass instruments, and that he had difficulty in coming to terms with the fact that brass instruments were tuned in different keys. Following an introduction to [[Niels Gade|Niels W. Gade]], the director of the [[Royal Danish Academy of Music|Royal Academy]] in Copenhagen, by whom he was well received, Nielsen obtained his release from the military band at short notice,<ref name="mmio" /> and studied at the Academy from the beginning of 1884.{{sfn|Ahlgren Jensen|2008}}

Though not an outstanding student and composing little, Nielsen progressed well in violin under [[Valdemar Tofte]] (1832–1907), and received a solid grounding in [[music theory]] from [[Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann]] as well as from [[Orla Rosenhoff]] (1844–1905), who would remain a valued adviser during his early years as a professional composer.{{sfn|Ahlgren Jensen|2008}} He also studied composition under [[Niels Gade|Gade]], whom he liked as a friend but not for his music. Contacts with fellow students and cultured families in Copenhagen, some of whom would become lifelong friends, became equally important. The patchy education resulting from his country background left Nielsen insatiably curious about the arts, philosophy and aesthetics. But, in the opinion of the musicologist [[David Fanning (musicologist)|David Fanning]], it also left him "with a highly personal, common man's point of view on those subjects".{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=888}} He left the Academy at the end of 1886, after graduating with good but not outstanding marks in all subjects. He then went to stay with the retired Odense merchant Jens Georg Nielsen (1820–1901) and his wife at their apartment on Slagelsegade as he was not yet in a position to pay his own way.<ref name=studyyears>{{cite web |title=Study years |work=Carl Nielsen 2015 |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/study-years.php |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406031958/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/study-years.php |url-status=live }}</ref> While there, he fell in love with their 14-year-old daughter Emilie Demant.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/timeline |title=Timeline |date=9 November 2014 |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518114354/http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/timeline |url-status=live }}</ref> The affair was to last for the next three years.{{sfn|Fellow|2005}}

On 17 September 1887, Nielsen played the violin in the [[Tivoli Concert Hall]] when his ''Andante tranquillo e Scherzo'' for strings was premiered. Shortly afterwards, on 25 January 1888, his String Quartet in F major was played at one of the private performances of the {{lang|da|Privat Kammermusikforening}} (Private Chamber Music Society).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/young-and-promising.php|title=Young and promising|publisher=Carl Nielsen Society|access-date=16 May 2015|archive-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406032033/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/young-and-promising.php|url-status=live}}</ref> While Nielsen considered the Quartet in F to be his official debut as a professional composer, a far greater impression was made by his ''Suite for Strings''. Performed at [[Tivoli Gardens]], Copenhagen on 8 September 1888, it was designated by Nielsen as his Op. 1.{{sfn|Fanning|2001|pp=888–889}}

By September 1889 Nielsen had progressed well enough on the violin to gain a position with the second violins in the prestigious Royal Danish Orchestra which played at Copenhagen's [[Royal Danish Theatre|Royal Theatre]], then conducted by Johan Svendsen. In this position he experienced Verdi's ''[[Falstaff (opera)|Falstaff]]'' and ''[[Otello]]'' at their Danish premieres. Although this employment sometimes caused Nielsen considerable frustration, he continued to play there until 1905. After Svendsen's retirement in 1906, Nielsen increasingly served as conductor (being officially appointed assistant conductor in 1910).<ref name=timeline /><ref name="OCM-Layton">{{harvnb|Layton}}. ''Oxford Companion to Music''.</ref> Between graduation and attaining this position, he made a modest income from private violin lessons while enjoying the continuing support of his patrons, not only Jens Georg Nielsen but also Albert Sachs (born 1846) and Hans Demant (1827–1897) who both ran factories in Odense.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen & Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen |language=da |publisher=Odense Bys Museer |url=http://museum.odense.dk/viden/carl-nielsen-anne-marie-carl-nielsen/publikationer-/spillemand-cn |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518193715/http://museum.odense.dk/viden/carl-nielsen-anne-marie-carl-nielsen/publikationer-/spillemand-cn |url-status=dead }}</ref> After less than a year at the Royal Theatre, Nielsen won a scholarship of 1,800 kroner, giving him the means to spend several months travelling in Europe.{{sfn|Fanning|2001|pp=888–889}}
{{Clear}}

=== Marriage and children ===
While travelling, Nielsen discovered and then turned against [[Richard Wagner]]'s [[music drama]]s, heard many of Europe's leading orchestras and soloists and sharpened his opinions on both music and the visual arts. Although he revered the music of [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], he remained ambivalent about much 19th-century music. In 1891 he met the composer and pianist [[Ferruccio Busoni]] in Leipzig; they were to maintain a correspondence for over thirty years.{{sfn|Grimley|2005|pp=212–213}} Shortly after arriving in Paris in early March 1891 Nielsen met the Danish sculptor [[Anne Marie Brodersen]], who was also travelling on a scholarship. They toured Italy together and married in [[St Mark's English Church, Florence]], on 10 May 1891 before returning to Denmark.{{sfn|Lawson|1997|p=58}} According to Fanning, their relationship was not only a "love match", but also a "meeting of minds"; Anne Marie was a gifted artist and a "strong-willed and modern-minded woman, determined to forge her own career".{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=889}} This determination would strain the Nielsens' marriage, as Anne Marie would spend months away from home during the 1890s and 1900s, leaving Carl, who pursued extramarital affairs with other women in her absence, to raise their three young children in addition to composing and fulfilling his duties at the Royal Theatre.<ref name="CNS-crisis" />

Nielsen sublimated his anger and frustration over his marriage in a number of musical works, most notably between 1897 and 1904, a period which he sometimes called his "psychological" period.{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=889}} Fanning writes, "At this time his interest in the driving forces behind human personality crystallized in the opera ''[[Saul og David|Saul and David]]'' and the [[Symphony No. 2 (Nielsen)|Second Symphony (''The Four Temperaments'')]] and the cantatas {{lang|la|[[Hymnus amoris]]}} and {{lang|da|[[Søvnen]]}}".{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=889}} Carl suggested divorce in March 1905 and had considered moving to Germany for a fresh start,{{sfn|Lawson|1997|p=104}} but despite several extended periods of separation the Nielsens remained married for the remainder of the composer's life.<ref name="CNS-crisis" />

Nielsen had five children, two of them illegitimate. He had already fathered a son, Carl August Nielsen, in January 1888, before he met Anne Marie. In 1912, an illegitimate daughter was born&nbsp;– Rachel Siegmann, about whom Anne Marie never learned.<ref name="CNS-crisis" /> With his wife Nielsen had two daughters and a son. Irmelin, the elder daughter, studied music theory with her father and in December 1919 married Eggert Møller (1893–1978), a medical doctor who became a professor at the [[University of Copenhagen]] and director of the [[polyclinic]] at the [[Rigshospitalet|National Hospital]]. The younger daughter [[Anne Marie Telmányi|Anne Marie]], who graduated from the [[Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts|Copenhagen Academy of Arts]], married the Hungarian violinist [[Emil Telmányi]] (1892–1988) in 1918; he contributed to the promotion of Nielsen's music, both as a violinist and a conductor. Nielsen's son, Hans Børge, was disabled as a result of [[meningitis]] and spent most of his life away from the family. He died near Kolding in 1956.<ref name="CNS-family" />

=== Mature composer ===
[[File:Carl Nielsen family at Fuglsang, Lolland.jpg|thumb|alt=photo of Carl Nielsen and four members of his family|Nielsen and his family at [[Fuglsang Manor]], {{circa|1915}}]]
At first, Nielsen's works did not gain sufficient recognition for him to be able to support himself. During the concert which saw the premiere of his [[Symphony No. 1 (Nielsen)|First Symphony]] on 14 March 1894 conducted by Svendsen, Nielsen played in the second violin section. The symphony was a great success when played in Berlin in 1896, contributing significantly to his reputation. He was increasingly in demand to write [[incidental music]] for the theatre as well as cantatas for special occasions, both of which provided a welcome source of additional income. Fanning comments on the relationship which developed between his programmatic and symphonic works: "Sometimes he would find stageworthy ideas in his supposedly pure orchestral music; sometimes a text or scenario forced him to invent vivid musical imagery which he could later turn to more abstract use."{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=889}}

Nielsen's [[cantata]] ''Hymnus amoris'' for soloists, chorus and orchestra was first performed at Copenhagen's [[Musikforeningen]] (The Music Society) on 27 April 1897. It was inspired by [[Titian]]'s painting ''[[Miracle of the Jealous Husband]]'' which Nielsen had seen on his honeymoon in Italy in 1891. On one of the copies, he wrote: "To my own Marie! These tones in praise of love are nothing compared to the real thing."{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''|pp=xi–xiv}}<ref name="CNS-sym-op" />

Beginning in 1901, Nielsen received a modest state pension&nbsp;– initially 800 kroner per annum, growing to 7,500 kroner by 1927&nbsp;– to augment his violinist's salary. This allowed him to stop taking private pupils and left him more time to compose. From 1903, he also had an annual retainer from his principal publisher, {{Interlanguage link multi|Wilhelm Hansen Edition|da}}. Between 1905 and 1914 he served as second conductor at the Royal Theatre. For his son-in-law, Emil Telmányi, Nielsen wrote his Violin Concerto, Op. 33 (1911). From 1914 to 1926, he conducted the Musikforeningen orchestra. In 1916, he took a post teaching at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and continued to work there until his death.<ref name="CNS-sym-op" />
[[File:Carl Nielsen 1917.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Nielsen in 1917|alt=Carl Nielsen, seated, facing right, smartly dressed in a suit and waistcoat]]

The strain of dual careers and constant separation from his wife led to an extended breach in his marriage. The couple began separation proceedings in 1916, and separation by mutual consent was granted in 1919. In the period 1916–22, Nielsen often lived on Funen, regularly retreating also to the Damgaard and [[Fuglsang Manor|Fuglsang]] estates, or worked as a conductor in [[Gothenburg]].<ref name="CNS-crisis" /> The period was one of creative crisis for Nielsen which, coinciding with World War I, would strongly influence his [[Symphony No. 4 (Nielsen)|Fourth]] (1914–16) and [[Symphony No. 5 (Nielsen)|Fifth symphonies]] (1921–22), arguably his greatest works according to Fanning.{{sfn|Fanning|2001|p=890}} The composer was particularly upset in the 1920s when his long-standing Danish publisher Wilhelm Hansen was unable to undertake publication of many of his major works, including ''Aladdin'' and ''Pan and Syrinx''.<ref name="CNS-pile" />

The sixth and final symphony, ''Sinfonia semplice'', was written in 1924–25. After suffering a serious heart attack in 1925, Nielsen was forced to curtail much of his activity, although he continued to compose until his death. His sixtieth birthday in 1925 brought many congratulations, a decoration from the Swedish government, and a gala concert and reception in Copenhagen. The composer, however, was in a dour mood; in an article in ''[[Politiken]]'' on 9 November 1925 he wrote: <blockquote>If I could live my life again, I would chase any thoughts of Art out of my head and be apprenticed to a merchant or pursue some other useful trade the results of which could be visible in the end&nbsp;... What use is it to me that the whole world acknowledges me, but hurries away and leaves me alone with my wares until everything breaks down and I discover to my disgrace that I have lived as a foolish dreamer and believed that the more I worked and exerted myself in my art, the better position I would achieve. No, it is no enviable fate to be an artist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/art-and-consciousness.php|title=Art and consciousness|publisher=Carl Nielsen Society|access-date=27 April 2015|archive-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512130043/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/art-and-consciousness.php|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Final years and death ===
Nielsen's final large-scale orchestral works were his Flute Concerto (1926) and the Clarinet Concerto (1928), of which [[Robert Layton (musicologist)|Robert Layton]] writes: "If ever there was music from another planet, this is surely it. Its sonorities are sparse and monochrome, its air rarefied and bracing."<ref name="OCM-Layton" /> Nielsen's last musical composition was the organ work ''[[Commotio (Nielsen)|Commotio]]''.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Piano and Organ Works''|page=lii}}

During his final years, Nielsen produced a short book of essays entitled ''Living Music'' (1925), followed in 1927 by his memoir ''Min Fynske Barndom''. In 1926 he wrote in his diary "My home soil pulls me more and more like a long sucking kiss. Does it mean that I shall finally return and rest in the earth of Funen? Then it must be in the place where I was born: Sortelung, Frydenlands parish".<ref>Cited in {{harvnb|Grimley|2005|p=218}}.</ref>

However, this was not to be. Nielsen was admitted to Copenhagen's National Hospital (Rigshospitalet) on 1 October 1931 following a series of [[myocardial infarction|heart attacks]]. He died there at ten minutes past midnight on 3 October, surrounded by his family. His last words to them were "You are standing here as if you were waiting for something".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.carlnielsen.dk/gb/bio/ |title=Carl Nielsen biografi |last=Ketting |first=Knud |website=Carl Nielsen Society |language=en-GB |access-date=1 October 2018 |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515111619/https://www.carlnielsen.dk/gb/bio/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

He was buried in Copenhagen's Vestre Cemetery; all the music at his funeral, including the hymns, was the work of the composer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/last-years.php|title=Last years|publisher=Carl Nielsen Society|access-date=27 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414003940/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/last-years.php|url-status=live}}</ref> After his death, his wife was commissioned to sculpt a monument to him, to be erected in central Copenhagen. She wrote: "I wanted to take the winged horse, eternal symbol of poetry, and place a musician on its back. He was to sit there between the rushing wings blowing a reed pipe out over Copenhagen." Dispute about her design and a shortfall in funding meant that erection of the monument was delayed and that Anne Marie herself ended up subsidising it. The [[Carl Nielsen Monument]] was finally unveiled in 1939.{{sfn|Holmen|1985|pp=29–31}}

== Music ==
{{further|List of compositions by Carl Nielsen}}
Nielsen's works are sometimes referred to by CNW numbers, based on the ''Catalogue of Carl Nielsen's Works'' (CNW) published online by the [[Danish Royal Library]] in 2015. The CNW catalogue is intended to replace the 1965 catalogue compiled by [[Dan Fog]] and [[Torben Schousboe]] (FS numbers).<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Works |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/list-of-works.php |access-date=30 April 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518231910/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/list-of-works.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Musical style ===
[[File:Nielsen5 poster.jpg|thumb|alt=Poster advertising a concert programme at Musikforeningen with items by Beethoven, Bach, and lastly Nielsen's fifth Symphony, 1922|Poster for premiere of Carl Nielsen's Fifth Symphony, 1922]]In his ''Lives of the Great Composers'', the music critic [[Harold C. Schonberg]] emphasizes the breadth of Nielsen's compositions, his energetic rhythms, generous orchestration and his individuality. In comparing him with [[Jean Sibelius]], he considers he had "just as much sweep, even more power, and a more universal message".{{sfn|Schonberg|1997|p=94}} The [[Oxford University]] music professor Daniel M. Grimley qualifies Nielsen as "one of the most playful, life-affirming, and awkward voices in twentieth-century music" thanks to the "melodic richness and harmonic vitality" of his work.{{sfn|Grimley|2010|p=ix}} Anne-Marie Reynolds, author of ''Carl Nielsen's Voice: His Songs in Context'', cites Robert Simpson's view that "all of his music is vocal in origin", maintaining that song-writing strongly influenced Nielsen's development as a composer.{{sfn|Reynolds|2010|pp=13–14}}

The Danish sociologist Benedikte Brincker observes that the perception of Nielsen and his music in his home country is rather different from his international appreciation. His interest and background in folk music had special resonance for Danes, and this was intensified during the nationalistic movements of the 1930s and during World War II, when singing was an important basis for the Danes to distinguish themselves from their German enemies.{{sfn|Brincker|2008|p=684}} Nielsen's songs retain an important place in Danish culture and education. The musicologist Niels Krabbe describes the popular image of Nielsen in Denmark as being like "the ugly duckling syndrome" – a reference to the tale of the Danish writer [[Hans Christian Andersen]] – whereby "a poor boy&nbsp;... passing through adversity and frugality&nbsp;... marches into Copenhagen and&nbsp;... comes to conquer the position as the uncrowned King".

While outside Denmark Nielsen is largely thought of as a composer of orchestral music and the opera ''Maskarade'', in his own country he is more of a national symbol. These two sides were officially brought together in Denmark in 2006 when the Ministry of Culture issued a list of the twelve greatest Danish musical works, which included Nielsen's opera ''Maskarade'', his Fourth Symphony, and a pair of his Danish folk songs.{{sfn|Krabbe|2012|p=55}} Krabbe asks the rhetorical question: "Can 'the national' in Nielsen be demonstrated in the music in the form of particular themes, harmonies, sounds, forms, etc., or is it a pure construct of reception history?"{{sfn|Krabbe|2007|p=44}}

Nielsen himself was ambiguous about his attitudes to late Romantic German music and to nationalism in music. He wrote to the Dutch composer [[Julius Röntgen]] in 1909 "I am surprised by the technical skills of the Germans nowadays, and I cannot help thinking that all this delight in complication must exhaust itself. I foresee a completely new art of pure archaic virtue. What do you think about songs sung in [[unison]]? We must go back&nbsp;... to the pure and the clear."{{sfn|Brincker|2008|p=689}} On the other hand, he wrote in 1925 "Nothing destroys music more than nationalism does&nbsp;... and it is impossible to deliver national music on request."{{sfn|Brincker|2008|p=684}}

Nielsen studied Renaissance [[polyphony]] closely, which accounts for some of the melodic and harmonic content of his music. This interest is exemplified in his ''[[Tre Motetter]]'' (Three Motets, Op. 55).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bachtrack.com/sibelius-nielsen-choral-music-feature|title=National poetry and polyphony: Exploring the choral music of Sibelius and Nielsen|last=Tollåli|first=Aksel|publisher=Bachtrack|date=11 March 2015|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518120553/http://bachtrack.com/sibelius-nielsen-choral-music-feature|url-status=live}}</ref> To non-Danish critics, Nielsen's music initially had a [[Neoclassicism (music)|neo-classical]] sound but became increasingly modern as he developed his own approach to what the writer and composer [[Robert Simpson (composer)|Robert Simpson]] called progressive tonality, moving from one key to another. Typically, Nielsen's music might end in a different key from that of its commencement, sometimes as the outcome of a struggle as in his symphonies.{{sfn|Pankhurst|2008|pp=113, 165}} There is debate as to how much such elements owe to his folk music activities. Some critics have referred to his rhythms, his use of [[acciaccatura]]s or [[appoggiatura]]s, or his frequent use of a [[flattened seventh]] and [[minor third]] in his works, as being typically Danish.{{sfn|White|Murphy|2001|p=129}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classical-music.com/topic/carl-nielsen|title=Carl Nielsen|last=Johnson|first=Stephen|date=29 June 2012 |publisher=Classical-music.com: Website of BBC Music Magazine|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610051929/http://www.classical-music.com/topic/carl-nielsen|url-status=live}}</ref> The composer himself wrote "The [[interval (music)|intervals]], as I see it, are the elements which first arouse a deeper interest in music&nbsp;... [I]t is intervals which surprise and delight us anew every time we hear the cuckoo in spring. Its appeal would be less if its call were all on one note."{{sfn|Brincker| 2008|p=694}}

Nielsen's philosophy of music style is perhaps summed up in his advice in a 1907 letter to the Norwegian composer Knut Harder: "You have&nbsp;... fluency, so far, so good; but I advise you again and again, my dear Mr. Harder; ''Tonality, Clarity, Strength''."<ref>Cited in {{harvnb|Grimley|2005|p=216}}.</ref>

=== Symphonies ===
[[File:FVNP - Odd Fellow 1.jpg|thumb|left|alt=photograph of a large three-story manor house with iron railings|[[Odd Fellows Mansion, Copenhagen|Odd Fellows Mansion]] in Copenhagen where many of Nielsen's compositions were premiered]]
Nielsen is perhaps most closely associated outside Denmark with his six symphonies, written between 1892 and 1925. The works have much in common: they are all just over 30 minutes long, brass instruments are a key component of the orchestration, and they all exhibit unusual changes in tonality, which heighten the dramatic tension.<ref name="BBC-Nielsen" /> From its opening bars, [[Symphony No. 1 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 1]] (Op. 7, 1890–92), while reflecting the influence of Grieg and Brahms, shows Nielsen's individuality. In [[Symphony No. 2 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 2]] (Op. 16, 1901–02), Nielsen embarks on the development of human character. Inspiration came from a painting in an inn depicting the [[four humours|four temperaments]] (choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic, and sanguine).{{sfn|Simpson|1979|p=25}}

The title of Symphony No. 3, ''[[Symphony No. 3 (Nielsen)|Sinfonia Espansiva]]'' (Op. 27, 1910–11), is understood by the English composer Robert Simpson to refer to the "outward growth of the mind's scope". It fully exploits Nielsen's technique of confronting two keys at the same time and includes a peaceful section with soprano and baritone voices, singing a tune without words.<ref name="BBC-Nielsen" /> [[Symphony No. 4 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 4]], ''The Inextinguishable'' (Op. 29, 1914–16), written during World War I, is among the most frequently performed of the symphonies. In the last movement two sets of [[timpani]] are placed on opposite sides of the stage undertaking a kind of musical duel. Nielsen described the symphony as "the life force, the unquenchable will to live".<ref>{{harvnb|Embassy of Denmark}}. Symphony No. 4.</ref> It premiered in February 1916 in Copenhagen, two weeks after its completion, and was performed in Warsaw, London, Paris, and St Louis the following year.{{sfn|Lawson|1997|p=153}}

Also frequently performed is the [[Symphony No. 5 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 5]] (Op. 50, 1921–22), presenting another battle between the forces of order and chaos. A [[snare drum]]mer is given the task of interrupting the orchestra, playing {{Lang|la|[[ad libitum]]}} and out of time, as if to destroy the music. Performed by the [[Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra]] conducted by [[Erik Tuxen]] at the 1950 [[Edinburgh International Festival]], it caused a sensation, sparking interest in Nielsen's music outside Scandinavia.<ref name="BBC-Nielsen" /><ref>{{harvnb|Guildmusic}}. Reviews.</ref> In [[Symphony No. 6 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 6]] (without opus number), written 1924–25, and subtitled ''Sinfonia Semplice (Simple Symphony)'', the tonal language seems similar to that in Nielsen's other symphonies, but the symphony develops into a sequence of cameos, some sad, some grotesque, some humorous.{{sfn|Simpson|1979|p=113}}<ref name="BBC-Nielsen" />

=== Operas and cantatas ===
[[File:Saul og David (Carl Nielsen), Stockholm 1931.jpg|thumb|right|alt=photograph of Carl Nielsen in a suit linking arms with costumed members of the cast of Saul and David |Nielsen with the cast of ''Saul og David'', Stockholm, 1931]]
Nielsen's two operas are very different in style. The four-act {{lang|da|[[Saul og David]]}} (Saul and David), written in 1902 to a libretto by [[Einar Christiansen]], tells the [[Bible|Biblical]] story of [[Saul]]'s jealousy of the young [[David]] while {{lang|da|Maskarade}} (Masquerade) is a comic opera in three acts written in 1906 to a Danish [[libretto]] by [[Vilhelm Andersen]], based on the comedy by [[Ludvig Holberg]]. ''Saul and David'' received a negative press when it was premiered in November 1902 and did no better when it was revived in 1904. By contrast, in November 1906 ''Masquerade'' was a resounding success with an exceptional run of 25 performances over its first four months.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Saul og David''|pp=xi–xxx}}{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Maskarade''|pp=xi–xxxvii}} Generally considered to be Denmark's national opera, in its home country it has enjoyed lasting success and popularity, attributable to its many [[Strophic form|strophic]] songs, its dances and its underlying "old Copenhagen" atmosphere.{{sfn|Schepelern|1987|pp=346–351}}

Nielsen wrote a considerable number of choral works but most of them were composed for special occasions and were seldom reprised. Three fully-fledged cantatas for soloists, orchestra and choir have, however, entered the repertoire. Nielsen composed {{lang|la|Hymnus amoris}} (''Hymn of Love''), Op. 12 (1897) after studying early polyphonic choral style. Writing in the newspaper ''Dannebrog'', Nanna Liebmann referred to the work as "a decisive victory" for Nielsen, and Angul Hammerich of ''[[Nationaltidende]]'' welcomed its improved clarity and purity. But the {{lang|da|[[Berlingske Tidende]]}} reviewer H.W. Schytte thought Nielsen had been pretentious presenting the lyrics in Latin rather than Danish.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''|p=xiii}} {{lang|da|[[Søvnen]]}} (''The Sleep''), Op. 18, Nielsen's second major choral work, sets to music the various phases of sleep including the terror of a nightmare in its central movement which, with its unusual discords, came as a shock to the reviewers at its premiere in March 1905.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''|p=xxi}} {{lang|da|[[Fynsk Foraar]]}} (''Springtime on Funen''), Op. 42, completed in 1922, has been cited as the most Danish of all Nielsen's compositions as it extols the beauty of Funen's countryside.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''|p=xxvii}}

=== Concertos ===
Nielsen wrote three concertos: the Violin Concerto, Op. 33 is a middle-period work, from 1911, which lies within the tradition of European classicism, whereas the Flute Concerto (without opus number) of 1926 and the Clarinet Concerto, Op. 57 which followed in 1928 are late works, influenced by the modernism of the 1920s and, according to the Danish musicologist Herbert Rosenberg, the product of "an extremely experienced composer who knows how to avoid inessentials."{{sfn|Rosenberg|1966|p=49}} Unlike Nielsen's later works, the Violin Concerto has a distinct, melody-oriented neo-classical structure. The Flute Concerto, in two movements, was written for the flautist [[Holger Gilbert-Jespersen]], a member of the Copenhagen Wind Quintet which had premiered Nielsen's Wind Quintet (1922).<ref name="CNS-ac" /> In contrast to the rather traditional style of the Violin Concerto, it reflects the modernistic trends of the period. The first movement, for example, switches between [[D minor]], [[E-flat minor]] and [[F major]] before the flute comes to the fore with a [[cantabile]] theme in [[E major]].<ref name="CA-flute" /> The Clarinet Concerto was also written for a member of the Copenhagen Wind Quintet, [[Aage Oxenvad]]. Nielsen stretches the capacities of instrument and player to the utmost; the concerto has just one continuous movement and contains a struggle between the soloist and the orchestra and between the two principal competing keys, F major and E major.<ref>{{harvnb|Reisig}}. Clarinet Concerto.</ref>

The wind concertos present many examples of what Nielsen called {{lang|da|objektivering}} ("objectification"). By this term he meant giving instrumentalists freedom of interpretation and performance within the bounds set out by the [[Sheet music|score]].{{sfn|Slattery|2015}}

=== Orchestral music ===
Nielsen's earliest work composed specifically for orchestra was the immediately successful ''[[Suite for String Orchestra (Nielsen)|Suite for Strings]]'', Op. 1 (1888), which evoked Scandinavian Romanticism as expressed by Grieg and Svendsen.<ref name="Lawson-quartets" /> The work marked an important milestone in Nielsen's career as it was not only his first real success but it was also the first of his pieces he conducted himself when it was played in Odense a month later.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Suite for String Orchestra''|p=vii}}

The ''[[Helios Overture]]'', Op. 17 (1903) stems from Nielsen's stay in Athens which inspired him to compose a work depicting the sun rising and setting over the [[Aegean Sea]].{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Helios''|p=vii}} The score is a showpiece for orchestra, and has been amongst Nielsen's most popular works.<ref>{{harvnb|Hodgetts}}. Helios Overture.</ref> {{lang|da|[[Saga-Drøm]]}} (''Saga Dream''), Op. 39 (1907–08) is a [[symphonic poem|tone poem]] for orchestra based on the Icelandic [[Njál's saga|Njal's Saga]]. In Nielsen's words:{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Orchestral Works 2''|p=xi}}
<blockquote>There are among other things four cadenzas for oboe, clarinet, bassoon and flute which run quite freely alongside one another, with no harmonic connection, and without my marking time. They are just like four streams of thought, each going its own way&nbsp;– differently and randomly for each performance&nbsp;– until they meet in a point of rest, as if flowing into a lock where they are united.</blockquote>

''[[At the Bier of a Young Artist]]'' ({{lang|da|Ved en ung Kunstners Baare}}) for string orchestra was written for the funeral of the Danish painter [[Oluf Hartmann]] in January 1910 and was also played at Nielsen's own funeral.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Orchestral Works 2''|p=xvii}} ''[[Pan and Syrinx]]'' ({{lang|da|Pan og Syrinx}}), a vigorous nine-minute symphonic poem inspired by [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Metamorphoses]]'', was premiered in 1911.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Orchestral Works 2''|p=xxi}} The Rhapsodic Overture, ''[[An Imaginary Trip to the Faroe Islands]]'' ({{lang|da|En Fantasirejse til Færøerne}}), draws on [[Faroe Islands|Faroese]] folk tunes but also contains freely composed sections.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Orchestral Works 2''|p=xxvi}}

Among Nielsen's orchestral works for the stage are ''[[Aladdin (Nielsen)|Aladdin]]'' (1919) and {{lang|da|[[Moderen]]}} (The Mother), Op. 41 (1920). ''Aladdin'' was written to accompany a production of [[Adam Oehlenschläger]]'s fairy tale at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. The complete score, lasting over 80 minutes, is Nielsen's longest work apart from his operas, but a shorter orchestral suite consisting of the ''Oriental March'', ''Hindu Dance'' and ''Negro Dance'' is often performed.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Aladdin''|p=xi}} {{lang|da|Moderen}}, written to celebrate the reunification of [[Southern Jutland]] with Denmark, was first performed in 1921; it is a setting of patriotic verses written for the occasion.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Incidental Music 2''|pp=xi–xxviii}}
{{clear}}

=== Chamber music ===

Nielsen composed several [[chamber music]] works, some of them still high on the international repertoire. The Wind Quintet, one of his most popular pieces, was composed in 1922 specifically for the Copenhagen Wind Quintet. Simpson, explaining that Nielsen's fondness of wind instruments was closely related to his love of nature, writes: "He was also intensely interested in human character, and in the Wind Quintet composed deliberately for five friends; each part is cunningly made to suit the individuality of each player."<ref>{{harvnb|Sierra Chamber Society}}. Quintet.</ref>{{listen|type=music|pos=left
|header=Wind Quintet, Op. 43
 | filename     = Carl Nielsen - Wind Quintet - 1. Allegro ben moderato.ogg
 | title        = 1. Allegro ben moderato
 | format       = [[Ogg]]
 | description1=
 | filename2    = Carl Nielsen - Wind Quintet - 2. Menuetto.ogg
 | title2       = 2. Menuetto
 | description2 = 
 | format2      = Ogg
 | filename3    = Carl Nielsen - Wind Quintet - 3. Praeludium - Adagio. Tema con variazioni - Un poco andantino.ogg
 | title3       = 3. Praeludium: Adagio. Tema con variazioni: Un poco andantino
 | description3 = Performed by [[James Galway]] (flute) with the Carion quintet
 | format3      = Ogg
}}
Nielsen wrote four string quartets. The [[String Quartet No. 1 (Nielsen)|First String Quartet No. 1 in G minor]], Op. 13 (1889, revised 1900) contains a "Résumé" section in the finale, bringing together themes from the first, third and fourth movements.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Piano and Organ Works''|p=xiv}} The [[String Quartet No. 2 (Nielsen)|Second String Quartet No. 2 in F minor]], Op. 5 appeared in 1890 and the [[String Quartet No. 3 (Nielsen)|Third String Quartet in E-flat major]], Op. 14 in 1898. The music historian Jan Smaczny suggests that in this work "the handling of texture is confident and far less derivative than in earlier works ... [the quartet] prompts the most regret that Nielsen did not pursue the genre further ... to parallel his later symphonic development".{{sfn|Smaczny|2003|p=274}} The [[String Quartet No. 4 (Nielsen)|Fourth String Quartet in F major]] (1904) initially received a mixed reception, with critics uncertain about its reserved style. Nielsen revised it several times, the final version in 1919 being listed as his Op. 44.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Chamber Music 1''|p=xi}}

The violin was Nielsen's own instrument and he composed four large-scale chamber works for it. The departures from standard procedures in the First Sonata, Op. 9 (1895), including its often sudden [[modulation (music)|modulations]] and its terse thematic material, disconcerted Danish critics at its first performance. The Second Sonata, Op.&nbsp;35 of 1912 was written for the violinist [[Peder Møller (violinist)|Peder Møller]] who earlier that year had premiered the composer's Violin Concerto. The work is an example of the composer's progressive tonality since, although it is stated to be in the key of G minor, the first and final movements end in different keys. The critic [[Emilius Bangert]] wrote of the premiere (which was given by [[Axel Gade]]), "The overall impression was of a beautiful, unbroken line&nbsp;– a flow of notes&nbsp;– where in particular a wonderful second subject in the first part and the pure, high sphere of the last part were captivating". Two other works are for violin solo. The ''Prelude, Theme and Variations'', Op. 48 (1923) was written for Telmányi, and, like Nielsen's ''[[Chaconne (Nielsen)|Chaconne]]'' for piano, Op. 32, was inspired by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The ''Preludio e Presto'', Op. 52 (1928) was written as a tribute for the sixtieth birthday of the composer [[Fini Henriques]].{{sfn|Ketting|2007}}

=== Keyboard works ===
Although Nielsen came to compose mainly at the piano, he only composed directly for it occasionally over a period of 40 years, creating works often with a distinctive style which slowed their international acceptance.{{sfn|Skjold-Rasmussen|1966|p=57}} Nielsen's own piano technique, an echo of which is probably preserved in three [[wax cylinders]] marked "Carl Nielsen" at the State Archives in [[Aarhus]], seems to have been mediocre.{{sfn|Grimley|2005|p=203}} Reviewing the 1969 recording of works by the pianist [[John Ogdon]], John Horton commented on the early pieces: "Nielsen's technical resources hardly measure up to the grandeur of his designs", whilst characterising the later pieces as "major works which can stand comparison with his symphonic music".{{sfn|Horton|1969|p=499}} The anti-romantic tone of the ''Symphonic Suite'', Op. 8 (1894) was described by a later critic as "nothing less than a clenched fist straight in the face of all established musical convention".<ref>Tørsleff, Hans. Cited in {{harvnb|Grimley|2005|p=205}}.</ref> In Nielsen's words, the ''Chaconne'', Op. 32 (1917) was "a really big piece, and I think effective".{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Piano and Organ Works''|pp=xxiii–xxvi}} It is not only inspired by the work of Bach, especially the [[Partita for Violin No. 2 (Bach)#The Ciaccona|chaconne for solo violin]], but also by the virtuoso piano arrangements of Bach's music by composers such as [[Robert Schumann]], Johannes Brahms and Ferruccio Busoni.{{sfn|Grimley|2005|pp=210–212}} Also on a large scale, and from the same year, is the ''Theme and Variations'', Op. 40, in which critics have discerned the influences of Brahms and also of [[Max Reger]], of whom Nielsen had earlier written to a friend "I think that the public will be utterly unable to grasp Reger's work and yet I am a lot more sympathetic towards his efforts than towards&nbsp;... [[Richard Strauss]]".{{sfn|Grimley|2005|pp=218–219}}

All Nielsen's organ works were late compositions. The Danish organist [[Finn Viderø]] suggests that his interest was prompted by the {{lang|de|Orgelbewegung}} ([[Organ reform movement]]), and the renewal of the front pipes of the [[Schnitger organ (Hamburg)|Schnitger organ]] in the [[St. Jacobi, Hamburg|St. Jacobi Church]], Hamburg, from 1928 to 1930.{{sfn|Viderø|1966|p=69}} Nielsen's last major work&nbsp;– {{lang|la|Commotio}}, Op. 58, a 22-minute piece for organ&nbsp;– was composed between June 1930 and February 1931, only a few months before his death.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Piano and Organ Works''|page=xlix}}

=== Songs and hymns ===
{{See also|List of songs composed by Carl Nielsen}}
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Forunderligt at sige, Carl Nielsen, Erik Damskier.ogg|title=''Forunderligt at sige'' ("How wonderful to ponder")|description=Christmas hymn played on piano, lyrics by [[N. F. S. Grundtvig]] omitted (0:44)|filename2=Grøn er vårens hæk CN.ogg|title2=''Grøn er Vaarens Hæk'' ("Green in the Hedge in Spring")|description2=Played on piano, lyrics by [[Poul Martin Møller]] omitted (0:25)|filename3=Se dig ud en sommerdag.ogg|title3=''Se dig ud en Sommerdag'' ("Look about one summer day")|description3=Played on piano, lyrics by [[Jeppe Aakjær]] omitted (0:27)}}
Over the years, Nielsen wrote the music for over 290 [[List of songs composed by Carl Nielsen|songs and hymns]], most of them for verses and poems by well-known Danish authors such as N. F. S. Grundtvig, [[Bernhard Severin Ingemann|Ingemann]], Poul Martin Møller, Adam Oehlenschläger and Jeppe Aakjær.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Songs''|pp=528–531}} In Denmark, many of them are still popular today both with adults and children.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Songs''|pp=21–22}} They are regarded as "the most representative part of the country's most representative composer's output".<ref>Krabbe, Niels. "Preface". In {{harvnb|Reynolds|2010|p=8<!--unnumbered on the page, clear from contents list-->}}.</ref> In 1906, Nielsen had explained the significance of such songs to his countrymen:<blockquote>With certain melodic inflections we Danes unavoidably think of the poems of, for example, Ingemann, [[Christian Winther]] or [[Holger Drachmann|Drachmann]], and we often seem to perceive the smell of Danish landscapes and rural images in our songs and music. But it is also clear that a foreigner, who knows neither our countryside, nor our painters, our poets, or our history in the same intimate way as we do ourselves, will be completely unable to grasp what it is that brings us to hear and tremble with sympathetic understanding.{{sfn|Vestergård|Vorre|2008|p=85}}</blockquote>

Of great significance was Nielsen's contribution to the 1922 publication, '' Folkehøjskolens Melodibog (The Folk High School Songbook)'', of which he was one of the editors together with [[Thomas Laub]], [[Oluf Ring]] and [[Thorvald Aagaard]]. The book contained about 600 melodies, of which about 200 were composed by the editors, and was intended to provide a repertoire for [[Sing-along|communal singing]], an integral part of Danish folk culture. The collection was extremely popular and became embedded in the Danish educational system. During the [[Denmark in World War II|German occupation of Denmark]] in World War II, mass song gatherings, using these melodies, were part of Denmark's "spiritual re-armament", and after the war in 1945 Nielsen's contributions were characterised by one writer as "shining jewels in our treasure-chest of patriotic songs". This remains a significant factor in Danish assessment of the composer.{{sfn|Vestergård|Vorre|2008|pp=83–84}}

=== Editions ===
Between 1994 and 2009 a complete new edition of Nielsen's works, the ''Carl Nielsen Edition'', was commissioned by the Danish Government (at a cost of over 40 million kroner).{{sfn|Krabbe|2012|pp=3–4}} For many of the works, including the operas ''Maskarade'' and ''Saul and David'', and the complete ''Aladdin'' music, this was their first printed publication, copies of manuscripts having previously been used in performances.{{sfn|Krabbe|2012|p=7}} The scores are now all available for download free of charge at the website of the Danish Royal Library (which also owns most of Nielsen's music manuscripts).<ref name="RDL-download" />

== Reception ==
Unlike that of his contemporary, the Finn Jean Sibelius, Nielsen's reputation abroad did not start to evolve until after World War II. For some time, international interest was largely directed towards his symphonies while his other works, many of them highly popular in Denmark, have only recently started to become part of the world repertoire.<ref name="CNS-performances" /> Even in Denmark, many of his compositions failed to impress. It was only in 1897 after the first performance of ''Hymnus amoris'' that he received support from the critics,{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''|pp=xi–xiv}} to be substantially reinforced in 1906 by their enthusiastic reception of ''Masquerade''.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Maskarade''|p=xiii}}

Within two months of its successful premiere at the Odd Fellows Concert Hall in Copenhagen on 28 February 1912, the Third Symphony (''Espansiva)'' was in the repertoire of the [[Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra|Amsterdam Concertgebouw]], and by 1913 it had seen performances in Stuttgart, Stockholm and Helsinki. The symphony was the most popular of all Nielsen's works during his lifetime and was also played in Berlin, Hamburg, London and Gothenburg.{{sfn|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Symphony 3 Preface''|p=xv}}{{sfn|Phillips|2014}} Other works caused some uncertainty, even in Denmark. After the premiere of the Fifth Symphony (1922) one critic wrote: "The treasure of Danish symphonies and Carl Nielsen's own output have been enriched by a strange and highly original work." Another, however, described it as a "bloody, clenched fist in the face of an unsuspecting snob audience", also qualifying it as "filthy music from trenches".<ref name="CNS-pile" />

At the end of the 1940s two major biographies of Nielsen appeared in Danish,<ref name="biographies-40s" /> dominating opinion of the composer's life and work for several decades.{{sfn|Krabbe|2007|p=45}} Robert Simpson's book ''Carl Nielsen, Symphonist'' (first edition 1952) was the earliest large-scale study in English.{{sfn|Simpson|1979}}

An international breakthrough came in 1962 when Leonard Bernstein recorded the Fifth Symphony with the [[New York Philharmonic]] for CBS. The recording helped Nielsen's music to achieve appreciation beyond his home country and is considered one of the finest recorded accounts of the symphony.{{sfn|Fanning|1997|p=92}}{{sfn|Burton|2006}} Nielsen's centenary in 1965 was widely celebrated, both in terms of performances and publications, and Bernstein was awarded the [[Léonie Sonning Music Prize|Sonning Prize]] for his recording of the Third Symphony.{{sfn|Krabbe|2007|p=47}} In 1988 Nielsen's diaries and his letters to Anne Marie were published, and these, together with a 1991 biography by Jørgen Jensen using this new material, led to a revised objective assessment of the composer's personality.{{sfn|Krabbe|2007|pp=47–48}} Writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' on the occasion of Nielsen's 125th anniversary in 1990, the music critic Andrew Pincus recalled that 25 years earlier Bernstein had believed the world was ready to accept the Dane as the equal of Jean Sibelius, speaking of "his rough charm, his swing, his drive, his rhythmic surprises, his strange power of harmonic and tonal relationships&nbsp;– and especially his constant unpredictability" (which Pincus believed was still a challenge for audiences).{{sfn|Pincus|1990}} Biographies and studies in English in the 1990s<ref name="biographies-90s" /> helped to establish Nielsen's status worldwide,{{sfn|Krabbe|2007|pp=50–53}} to the point at which his music has become a regular feature of concert programming in Western countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://storbritannien.um.dk/en/about%20great%20britain/carl-nielsen-150th-anniversary/|title=Carl Nielsen 150th Anniversary|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark|access-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424143402/http://storbritannien.um.dk/en/about%20great%20britain/carl-nielsen-150th-anniversary/|archive-date=24 April 2015}}</ref>

Writing in ''[[The New Yorker]]'' in 2008, the American music critic [[Alex Ross (music critic)|Alex Ross]] compares the "brute strength" of Nielsen's symphonies to [[Beethoven]]'s ''[[Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)|Eroica]]'' and [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]] but explains that only now were the Americans slowly beginning to appreciate the Danish composer.{{sfn|Ross|2008}}

Nielsen did not record any of his works.<ref name="Musicweb-vol-1" /> However, three younger contemporary conductors who had worked with him, [[Thomas Jensen (conductor)|Thomas Jensen]], [[Launy Grøndahl]], and Erik Tuxen, did record his symphonies and other orchestral works with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra between 1946 and 1952. Jensen also made the first [[LP record]]ing of the Fifth Symphony in 1954.{{sfn|Cane|2014|pp=12–18}} Work carried out by the recently published complete ''Carl Nielsen Edition'' has revealed that the scores used in these recordings often differ from the composer's original intentions and thus the supposed authenticity of these recordings is now debatable.{{sfn|Krabbe|2012|pp=6–7}}

There are now numerous recordings of all Nielsen's major works, including complete cycles of the symphonies conducted by, amongst others, [[Colin Davis|Sir Colin Davis]], [[Herbert Blomstedt]] and [[Sakari Oramo]]. Over 50 recordings have been made of Nielsen's Wind Quintet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Discography |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/discography.php |access-date=25 April 2015 |archive-date=20 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320142633/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/discography.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Legacy ==
[[File:Carl Nielsen-1928.jpg|thumb|right|alt=photograph of Carl Nielsen in a dark suit and tie sitting behind crumpled papers including a letter with his signature|Nielsen at a 1928 rehearsal of ''Saul og David'' in Gothenburg.]]
From 1916, Nielsen taught at the Royal Academy where he became director in 1931, shortly before his death. He also had private students in his earlier days in order to supplement his income. As a result of his teaching, Nielsen has exerted considerable influence on classical music in Denmark.{{sfn|Grimley|2010|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=mv6ZD7378CcC&pg=PA10 p.&nbsp;10 footnote]}} Among his most successful pupils were the composers Thorvald Aagaard, remembered in particular for his songs, [[Harald Agersnap]], both a conductor and orchestral composer, and [[Jørgen Bentzon]] who composed choral and chamber music mainly for his folk music school (Københavns Folkemusikskole). Among his other students were the musicologist [[Knud Jeppesen]], the pianist [[Herman David Koppel|Herman Koppel]], the academy professor and symphony composer [[Poul Schierbeck]], the organist Emilius Bangert who played at [[Roskilde Cathedral]], and [[Nancy Dalberg]], one of Nielsen's private students who helped with the orchestration of ''Aladdin''. Nielsen also instructed the conductor and choirmaster [[Mogens Wöldike]], remembered for his interpretations of Baroque music, and [[Rudolph Simonsen]], the pianist and composer who became director of the Academy after Nielsen's death.{{sfn|Caron|2013}}

The Carl Nielsen Society maintains a listing of performances of Nielsen's works, classified by region (Denmark, Scandinavia, Europe apart from Scandinavia and outside Europe) which demonstrates that his music is regularly performed throughout the world. The concerti and symphonies feature frequently in these listings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Performances |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/performances/denmark-201415.php |access-date=22 April 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518231930/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/performances/denmark-201415.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
The Carl Nielsen International Competition commenced in the 1970s under the auspices of the [[Odense Symphony Orchestra]]. A four-yearly violin competition has been held there since 1980. Flute and clarinet competitions were later added, but these have now been discontinued. An international Organ Competition, founded by the city of Odense, became associated with the Nielsen competition in 2009, but from 2015 will be organized separately, based in Odense Cathedral.<ref>{{harvnb|''Nielsen Notes''|2015}}; {{harvnb|Odense Symphony Orchestra}}.</ref>

In his home country, the Carl Nielsen Museum, in Odense, is dedicated to Nielsen and his wife, Anne Marie.<ref name="CNM" /> The composer is featured on the [[Banknotes of Denmark, 1997 series#The 100 kroner note|100 kroner note]] issued by the [[Danmarks Nationalbank|Danish National Bank]] from 1997 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 1997 Series |publisher=[[Danmarks Nationalbank]] |url=http://www.nationalbanken.dk/en/banknotes_and_coins/Danish_previous_notes/Pages/The-1997-series.aspx |access-date=23 April 2015 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605225205/https://www.nationalbanken.dk/en/banknotes_and_coins/Danish_previous_notes/Pages/The-1997-series.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> His image was selected in recognition of his contribution to Danish music compositions such as his opera ''Maskarade'', his ''Espansiva'' symphony and his many songs including "Danmark, nu blunder den lyse nat".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business.dk/diverse/ny-100-kroneseddel-til-november|title=Ny 100-kroneseddel til november|newspaper=Berlingske|date=17 August 1999|access-date=20 May 2015|language=da|archive-date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302201405/https://www.business.dk/diverse/ny-100-kroneseddel-til-november|url-status=live}}</ref>

Several special events were scheduled on or around 9 June 2015 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Nielsen's birth. In addition to many performances in Denmark, concerts were programmed in cities across Europe, including London, Leipzig, Kraków, Gothenburg, Helsinki and Vienna, and even further afield in Japan, Egypt and New York.<ref name="Calendar" /> For 9 June, Nielsen's birthday, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra presented a programme in Copenhagen's [[Koncerthuset|DR Concert Hall]] featuring ''Hymnus amoris'', the ''Clarinet Concerto'' and ''Symphony No. 4'' for a broadcast extending across Europe and the United States.<ref name="Gallaconcert" /><ref name="Milestones" /> The [[Danish Royal Opera]] has programmed ''Maskarade''<ref name="Operabase-Maskarade" /> and a new production (directed by David Pountney) of ''Saul og David''.<ref name="Operabase-Saul-og-David" /> During 2015, the [[Danish Quartet]] scheduled performances of Nielsen's string quartets in Denmark, Israel, Germany, Norway and the UK (at the [[Cheltenham Music Festival]]).<ref name="Danish Quartet" /> In the UK, the [[BBC Philharmonic]] prepared a concert series on Nielsen beginning on 9 June in [[Manchester]].<ref name="BBC-Syms" /> Nielsen's ''Maskarade'' overture was also the first item for the opening night of the 2015 [[BBC Promenade Concerts]] in London, while his compositions featured in five other concerts of the Prom season.<ref>{{cite web |title=First night of the Proms |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezpxj5 |access-date=23 April 2015 |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321201655/https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezpxj5 |url-status=live }}<br />• {{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen |work=Proms Events |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/events/composers/176 |access-date=23 April 2015 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426194556/https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/events/composers/176 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city of Odense, which has strong connections with Nielsen, developed an extensive programme of concerts and cultural events for the anniversary year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen 2015 |language=da |publisher=oplev.odense.dk |url=http://oplev.odense.dk/topmenu/kalender/festivaler-og-events/carl-nielsen-2015 |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420070203/http://www.oplev.odense.dk/topmenu/kalender/festivaler-og-events/carl-nielsen-2015 |archive-date=20 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Minor planet [[6058 Carlnielsen]] is named in his honor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=6058 |title=(6058) Carlnielsen = 1974 OM = 1978 VL5 = 1981 UF13 |publisher=Minor planet center |access-date=27 March 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923222050/http://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=6058 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{reflist| colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="mmio">{{cite web |title=Military musician in Odense |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/military-musician-in-odense.php |access-date=21 April 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406031829/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/military-musician-in-odense.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-crisis">{{cite web |title=Years of crisis |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/years-of-crisis.php |access-date=27 April 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406031330/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/years-of-crisis.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-family">{{cite web |title=Family life |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/family-life.php |access-date=18 November 2010 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512104507/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/family-life.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-sym-op">{{cite web |title=Symphonist and opera composer |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/symphonist-and-opera-composer.php |access-date=27 April 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406032013/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/symphonist-and-opera-composer.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-pile">{{cite web |title=...a whole pile of works |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/a-pile-of-works.php |access-date=27 April 2015 |archive-date=6 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406031711/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/a-pile-of-works.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="BBC-Nielsen">{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen&nbsp;– Composer |date=26 July 2001 |publisher=BBC |url=http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A592751 |access-date=17 November 2010 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426045417/https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A592751 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-ac">{{cite web |title=Art and consciousness |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/art-and-consciousness.php |access-date=19 October 2010 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512130043/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography/art-and-consciousness.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CA-flute">{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen: Flute Concerto, FS119 |publisher=Classical Archives |url=http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/78522.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about |access-date=19 October 2010 |archive-date=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102070816/http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/78522.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Lawson-quartets">{{cite book |last=Lawson |first=Jack |title=Nielsen String Quartets Volume 1 |publisher=Chandos Records}}</ref>

<ref name="RDL-download">{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen Edition&nbsp;– Download |publisher=Royal Danish Library |url=http://www.kb.dk/en/nb/dcm/cnu/download.html |access-date=30 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012000331/http://www.kb.dk/en/nb/dcm/cnu/download.html |archive-date=12 October 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="CNS-performances">{{cite web |title=Nielsen Calendar |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/events |access-date=31 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612101121/http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/events |archive-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="biographies-40s">{{harvnb|Meyer|Petersen|1947}}; {{harvnb|Dolleris|1949}}.</ref>

<ref name="biographies-90s">{{harvnb|Miller|1994}}; {{harvnb|Fanning|1997}}; {{harvnb|Lawson|1997}}.</ref>

<ref name="Musicweb-vol-1">{{cite web |title=The Historic Carl Nielsen Collection: Vol. 1 |publisher=MusicWeb International |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/feb03/Nielsen_symphonies_historic.htm |access-date=24 April 2015 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221060217/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Feb03/Nielsen_symphonies_historic.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="CNM">{{cite web |title=The Carl Nielsen Museum |publisher=Odense City Museums |url=http://museum.odense.dk/en/museums/carl-nielsen-museum/the-carl-nielsen-museum |access-date=2 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205734/http://museum.odense.dk/en/museums/carl-nielsen-museum/the-carl-nielsen-museum |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="Calendar">{{cite web |title=Nielsen Calendar |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/events |access-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612101121/http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/events |archive-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Gallaconcert">{{cite web |title=Gallaconcert: Carl Nielsen 150 år |language=da |publisher=Danmarks Radio |url=http://www.dr.dk/Koncerthuset/Kalender/2015/juni/gallakoncert-carl-nielsen-150aar.htm |access-date=20 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519065422/http://www.dr.dk/Koncerthuset/Kalender/2015/juni/gallakoncert-carl-nielsen-150aar.htm |archive-date=19 May 2015 }}</ref>

<ref name="Milestones">{{cite web |title=Milestones |work=Carl Nielsen 2015 |date=7 November 2014 |url=http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/milestones |access-date=2 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518115425/http://www.carlnielsen.org/en/milestones |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Operabase-Maskarade">{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen: Maskarade |work=[[Operabase]] |url=http://www.operabase.com/diary.cgi?lang=en&loc=K%C3%B8benhavn&code=sdkoo&date=20150328 |access-date=25 April 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150426003019/http://www.operabase.com/diary.cgi?lang=en&loc=K%C3%B8benhavn&code=sdkoo&date=20150328 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Operabase-Saul-og-David">{{cite web |title=Carl Nielsen: Saul og David |work=Operabase |url=http://www.operabase.com/diary.cgi?lang=en&loc=K%C3%B8benhavn&code=sdkoo&date=20150417 |access-date=25 April 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150426003023/http://www.operabase.com/diary.cgi?lang=en&loc=K%C3%B8benhavn&code=sdkoo&date=20150417 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Danish Quartet">{{cite web |title=Danish Quartet |publisher=Danish Quartet |url=http://danishquartet.com/event/ |access-date=25 April 2015 |archive-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205155642/http://danishquartet.com/event/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="BBC-Syms">{{cite web |title=Nielsen Symphony Cycle I |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/enwnc8 |access-date=20 April 2015 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421035903/https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/enwnc8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

=== Sources ===
{{div col|colwidth=45em}}
* {{cite journal |last=Ahlgren Jensen |first=Lisbeth |year=2008|translator-link=David Fanning (musicologist)|translator=David Fanning|title=The Rosenhoff Affair |journal=Carl Nielsen Studies |volume=III |pages=50–64 |url=https://tidsskrift.dk/index.php/carlnielsenstudies/article/viewFile/39725/76625 |via=Tidsskrift.dk |access-date=13 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518085203/https://tidsskrift.dk/index.php/carlnielsenstudies/article/viewFile/39725/76625 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Balzer |editor-first=Jürgen |year=1966 |title=Carl Nielsen Centenary Essays |publisher=[[Dennis Dobson]] |location=London |oclc=885495 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Brincker |first=Benedikte |year=2008 |title=The role of classical music in the construction of nationalism: an analysis of Danish consensus nationalism and the reception of Carl Nielsen |journal=Nations and Nationalism|volume=14 |number=4 |pages=684–699 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-8129.2008.00354.x}}
* {{cite web |last=Burton |first=Anthony |date=4 November 2006 |title=Nielsen: Symphony No.5, Op.50 |work=CD Review: Building a Library Recommendations |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/cdreview/pip/12mwz/ |access-date=23 July 2010 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cane |first=A. |date=Autumn 2014 |title=Thomas Jensen and the Nielsen tradition |journal=Classical Recordings Quarterly |issue=78 |pages=12–18 }}
* {{cite web|title=Carl Nielsen Edition&nbsp;– Download |publisher=Royal Danish Library |url=http://www.kb.dk/en/nb/dcm/cnu/download.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012000331/http://www.kb.dk/en/nb/dcm/cnu/download.html |archive-date=12 October 2014 |url-status=dead }} Table of contents, including introductions and music scores.
** {{cite book |chapter=Aladdin |editor-last=Fanning |editor-first=David|editor-link=David Fanning (musicologist)|year=2000|title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=I. Stage Music |volume=8 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-014-0 |isbn=978-87-598-1009-5 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_08_aladdin.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163308/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_08_aladdin.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Aladdin''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Cantatas 1 |editor1-last=Ahlgren Jensen |editor1-first=Lisbeth |editor2-last=Krabbe |editor2-first=Niels |year=2002 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=III. Vocal Music |volume=1 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-102-4 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_III_01_cantatas_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163230/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_III_01_cantatas_1.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Cantatas 1''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Chamber Music 1 |editor1-last=Ahlgren Jensen |editor1-first=Lisbeth |editor2-last=Bruunshuus Petersen |editor2-first=Elly |editor3-last=Flensborg Petersen |editor3-first=Kirsten |year=2004 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=10 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-104-8 |isbn=978-87-598-1093-4 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_10_chamber_music_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016171023/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_10_chamber_music_1.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Chamber Music 1''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Helios |editor1-last=Hauge |editor1-first=Peter |editor2-last=Michelsen |editor2-first=Thomas |year=2001 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=7 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-010-2 |isbn=978-87-598-1014-9 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_07_4_helios.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163602/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_07_4_helios.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Helios''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Incidental Music 2 |editor1-last=Bruunshuus Petersen |editor1-first=Elly |editor2-last=Flensborg Petersen |editor2-first=Kirsten |year=2007 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=I. Incidental Music |volume=9 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-202-1 |isbn=978-87-598-5396-2 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_09_incidental_music_2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163613/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_09_incidental_music_2.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Incidental Music 2''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Maskarade (Masquerade) |editor1-last=Fjeldsøe |editor1-first=Michael |editor2-last=Foltmann |editor2-first=Niels Bo |editor3-last=Hauge |editor3-first=Peter |editor4-last=Bruunshuus Petersen |editor4-first=Elly |editor5-last=Flensborg Petersen |editor5-first=Kirsten |year=2001 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=I. Stage Music |volume=1 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-019-5 |isbn=978-87-598-1047-7 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_01_E_maskarade_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163339/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_01_E_maskarade_1.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Maskarade''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Orchestral Works 2 |editor1-last=Foltmann |editor1-first=Niels Bo |editor2-last=Hauge |editor2-first=Peter |year=2004 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=8 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-113-0 |isbn=978-87-598-1127-6 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_08_orchestral_works_2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016163328/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_08_orchestral_works_2.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Orchestral Works 2''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Piano and Organ Works |editor1-last=Fanning |editor1-first=David|editor1-link=David Fanning (musicologist)|editor2-last=Foltmann |editor2-first=Niels Bo |year=2006 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=12 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-201-4 |isbn=978-87-598-5395-5 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_12_piano_and_organ_works.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016172651/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_12_piano_and_organ_works.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Piano and Organ Works''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Saul and David |editor1-last=Foltmann |editor1-first=Niels Bo |editor2-last=Hauge |editor2-first=Peter |editor3-last=Krabbe |editor3-first=Niels |year=2002 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=I. Stage Music |volume=4 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-105-5 |isbn=978-87-598-1095-8 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_04_E_saul_og_david_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016165406/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_I_04_E_saul_og_david_1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=16 October 2014 |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Saul og David''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Songs |editor1-last=Foltmann |editor1-first=Niels Bo |editor2-last=Hauge |editor2-first=Peter |year=2009 |editor3-last=Bruunshuus Petersen |editor3-first=Elly |editor4-last=Flensborg Petersen |editor4-first=Kirsten |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=III. Vocal Music |volume=7 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-211-3 |isbn=978-87-598-1823-7 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_III_07_songs_4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016174349/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_III_07_songs_4.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Songs''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Suite for String Orchestra |editor1-last=Hauge |editor1-first=Peter |year=2001 |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=7 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library |ismn = 979-0-66134-008-9 |isbn=978-87-598-1010-1 |url=http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_07_2_suite.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016174457/http://www.kb.dk/export/sites/kb_dk/da/nb/dcm/cnu/pdf/CNU_II_07_2_suite.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Suite for String Orchestra''}}}}
** {{cite book |chapter=Symphony 3 Preface |editor-last=Foltmann |editor-first=Niels Bo<!--WorldCat, byline p. xx--> |year=1999<!--WorldCat--> |title=Carl Nielsen Works |series=II. Instrumental Music |volume=3 |publisher=The Carl Nielsen Edition, Royal Danish Library <!--|id=[[ISMN]] M-66134-??--> |isbn=978-87-598-0991-4 |url=http://img.kb.dk/ma/cn/forord/CNU_II_03_pr.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625164608/http://img.kb.dk/ma/cn/forord/CNU_II_03_pr.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2007 |url-status=live |ref={{harvid|''Carl Nielsen Edition: Symphony 3 Preface''}}}}
* {{cite web |last=Caron |first=Jean-Luc |date=20 January 2013 |title=Les élèves de Carl Nielsen |trans-title=Carl Nielsen's students |language=fr |url=http://www.resmusica.com/2013/01/20/les-danois-xvi-les-eleves-de-carl-nielsen/ |work=ResMusica |access-date=18 May 2015 }}
* {{cite book |last=Dolleris |first=Ludvig |year=1949 |title=Carl Nielsen |publisher=Fyns Boghandels }}
* {{cite web |title=LSO celebrates Nielsen |publisher=Embassy of Denmark, United Kingdom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725211338/http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/News/LSO%20celebrates%20Nielsen.htm?printmode=True |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url=http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/News/LSO%20celebrates%20Nielsen.htm?printmode=True |ref={{harvid|Embassy of Denmark}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Fanning |first=David |author-link=David Fanning (musicologist) |year=1997 |title=Nielsen: Symphony No. 5 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-44088-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nielsensymphonyn0000fann }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Fanning |first=David |year=2001 |title=Nielsen, Carl (August) |volume=17 |pages=888–890 |editor1-last=Sadie |editor1-first=Stanley |editor2-last=Tyrell |editor2-first=John |editor1-link=Stanley Sadie |encyclopedia=[[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians]] |edition=2nd |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-333-60800-5 }}
* {{cite news |last=Fellow |first=John |date=26 May 2005 |title=Carl og Emilie&nbsp;... og Ottilie |trans-title=Carl and Emilie&nbsp;... and Ottilie |language=da |work=Politiken |url=http://politiken.dk/debat/kroniken/ECE114151/carl-og-emilie--og-ottilie/ |access-date=16 May 2015 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Gibbs |first=Alan |year=1963 |title=Carl Nielsen's ''Commotio''|journal=[[The Musical Times]] |volume=104 |pages=208–209 |number=1441 |jstor=949034|doi=10.2307/949034 }}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite journal |last=Grimley |first=Daniel M. |year=2005 |title='Tonality, Clarity, Strength': Gesture, Form and Nordic Identity in Carl Nielsen's Piano Music |journal=[[Music & Letters]] |volume=86 |number=2 |pages=202–233 |jstor=3526535 |doi=10.1093/ml/gci033|s2cid=191664640 }}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite book |last=Grimley |first=Daniel M. |year=2010 |title=Carl Nielsen and the Idea of Modernism |publisher=Boydell Press |isbn=978-1-84383-581-3 }}
* {{cite web |title=Reviews for GHCD 2340 |publisher=Guildmusic |url=http://www.guildmusic.com/reviewforguild/guildmusic_cd_review_ghcd2340.htm |access-date=17 November 2010 |ref={{harvid|Guildmusic}}}}
* {{cite web |last=Hodgetts |first=Jonathan |title=Helios Overture |publisher=Salisbury Symphony Orchestra |url=http://www.salisburysymphonyorchestra.org.uk/helios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704142827/http://www.salisburysymphonyorchestra.org.uk/helios |archive-date=4 July 2004 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Holmen |first=Grethe |year=1985 |title=Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen and Anne Marie Telmànyi: Mother and Daughter |journal=Woman's Art Journal |volume=5 |number=2 |pages=28–33 |jstor=1357963 |doi=10.2307/1357963}}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite journal |last=Horton |first=John |year=1969 |title=''Piano Music'' by Carl Nielsen, John Ogdon |journal=[[The Musical Times]]|volume=110 |pages=499 |number=1515 |jstor=954435 |doi=10.2307/954435}}{{subscription required}}
* {{cite web |last=Ketting |first=Knud |year=2007 |title=The Violin Sonatas and Violin Solo works |work=CD 8.226065, booklet |publisher=Da Capo Records |url=http://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/recording-chamber-music-vol--2_1.aspx |access-date=17 May 2015 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Krabbe |first=Niels |year=2007 |title=A Survey of the Written Reception of Carl Nielsen, 1931–2006|journal=Notes |series=Second Series |volume=64 |number=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1353/not.2007.0115 |s2cid=191315266 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Krabbe |first=Niels |year=2012 |title=The Carl Nielsen Edition&nbsp;– Brought to Completion |journal=Fontes Artis Musicae |volume=59 |number=1 |pages=43–56 }}
* {{cite web |last=Larsen |first=Jørgen |date=19 February 2015|title=Carl Nielsens mors familie |trans-title=Carl Nielsen's mother's family |language=da |publisher=Historiens Hus Odense |url=http://www.historienshus.dk/topmenu/topmenu%202/om%20odense/personer/carl%20nielsens%20mors%20familie |access-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081109/http://www.historienshus.dk/topmenu/topmenu%202/om%20odense/personer/carl%20nielsens%20mors%20familie |archive-date=18 May 2015 }}
* {{cite book |last=Lawson |first=Jack |date=22 May 1997 |title=Carl Nielsen |publisher=Phaidon |isbn=978-0-7148-3507-5 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Layton |first=Robert|author-link=Robert Layton (musicologist)|chapter=Nielsen, Carl (August)|title=[[The Oxford Companion to Music]] |edition=online |chapter-url=http://0-www.oxfordmusiconline.com.catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/subscriber/article/opr/t114/e4723|access-date=6 May 2015|chapter-url-access=subscription}}{{dead link|date=November 2023}}
* {{cite book |last1=Meyer |first1=Torben |last2=Petersen |first2=Frede Schandorf |year=1947 |title=Carl Nielsen Kunstneren og Mennesket Bind 1 |language=da |trans-title=Carl Nielsen the Artist and the Man Volume 1 |publisher=Nyt Nordisk Forlag. Arnold Busck }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Miller |editor-first=Mina F. |editor-link=Mina F. Miller |year=1994 |title=The Nielsen Companion |publisher=Faber and Faber |isbn=978-1-57467-004-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Nielsen |first=Carl |year=1953 |title=My Childhood |others=Translated from the Danish by Reginald Spink }}
* {{cite web |title=Nielsen Notes |publisher=Carl Nielsen Society |url=http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/nielsen-notes.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211090846/http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/nielsen-notes.php |archive-date=11 February 2015|ref={{harvid|''Nielsen Notes''|2015}}}}
* {{cite web |title=Welcome to Odense Symphony Orchestra |publisher=Odense Symphony Orchestra |url=http://odensesymfoni.dk/Webnodes/da/Web/Odense+Symfoniorkester/ENGLISH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219110116/http://odensesymfoni.dk/Webnodes/da/Web/Odense%2BSymfoniorkester/ENGLISH |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=dead |ref={{harvid|Odense Symphony Orchestra}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Pankhurst |first=Tom |year=2008<!--page metadata on pdf file, 2010--> |chapter=Nielsen and 'Progressive tonality': a narrative approach to the First Symphony |title=Schenkerguide |publisher=Routledge |pages=113–165 |chapter-url=http://www.schenkerguide.com/04chapter3.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305121633/http://www.schenkerguide.com/04chapter3.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live |isbn=978-0-415-97398-4 }}
* {{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Rick |year=2014<!--copyright--> |title=Symphony No. 3 'Sinfonia espansiva' |publisher=Toronto Symphony Orchestra |url=http://tso.ca/en-ca/Discover-the-Music/Programme-Notes/Symphony-No-3-Sinfonia-espansiva.aspx |access-date=30 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150501003626/http://tso.ca/en-ca/Discover-the-Music/Programme-Notes/Symphony-No-3-Sinfonia-espansiva.aspx |archive-date=1 May 2015 }}
* {{cite news |last=Pincus |first=Andrew L. |date=10 June 1990 |title=A Composer Whose Time Never Seems to Come |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/10/arts/music-a-composer-whose-time-never-seems-to-come.html |access-date=21 October 2010 }}
* {{cite web |last=Reisig |first=Wayne |title=Clarinet concerto, Op. 57 (FS 129) |work=AllMusic |url={{AllMusic|class=work|id=clarinet-concerto-op-57-fs-129-c45529/description|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=17 November 2010 }}
* {{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Anne-Marie |year=2010 |title=Carl Nielsen's Voice: His Songs in Context |publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press |isbn=978-87-635-2598-5 }}
* {{cite book |last=Rosenberg |first=Herbert |year=1966 |chapter=The Concertos |pages=47–56 |title=Carl Nielsen Centenary Essays }} In {{harvtxt|Balzer|1966}}.
* {{cite magazine |last=Ross |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Ross (music critic) |date=26 February 2008 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/02/25/inextinguishable |title=Inextinguishable: The fiery rhythms of Carl Nielsen |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|access-date=3 May 2015 }}
* {{cite book |last=Schepelern |first=Gerhard |year=1987 |title=Operabogen 1 |trans-title=Opera Book 1 |language=da |edition=10th |publisher=Nordisk Forlag |isbn=978-87-00-19464-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Schonberg |first=Harold C. |author-link=Harold C. Schonberg |year=1997 |title=The Lives of the Great Composers |publisher=Futura Publications |location=London |isbn=978-0-86007-723-7 }}
* {{cite web |publisher=Sierra Chamber Society |title=Carl Nielsen: Quintet for Wind Instruments, Op.43 (1922) |work=Program Notes |url=http://www.fuguemasters.com/nielsen.html |access-date=10 November 2010 |ref={{harvid|Sierra Chamber Society}} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215013356/http://www.fuguemasters.com/nielsen.html |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}
* {{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Simpson (composer) |year=1979 |title=Carl Nielsen, Symphonist |edition=2nd |publisher=Kahn&nbsp;& Averill |isbn=978-0-900707-46-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Skjold-Rasmussen |first=Arne |year=1966 |chapter=The Piano Works |pages=57–68 |title=Carl Nielsen Centenary Essays }} In {{harvtxt|Balzer|1966}}.
* {{cite web |last=Slattery |first=Jacob |date=11 February 2015 |url=http://bachtrack.com/carl-nielsen-wind-music |title=Celebrating the Wind Music of Carl Nielsen |publisher=Bachtrack |access-date=30 April 2015 }}
* {{cite book |last=Smaczny |first=Jan |year=2003 |chapter=Nineteenth-century national traditions |editor-last=Stowell |editor-first=Robin |title=The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet |series=[[Cambridge Companions to Music]] |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=266–287|isbn=978-0-521-00042-0 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Vestergård |first1=Karen |last2=Vorre |first2=Ida-Marie |year=2008 |title=Danishness in Nielsen's ''Folkelige'' Songs |format=PDF |journal=Carl Nielsen Studies |volume=III |pages=80–101 |via=Tidsskrift.dk |url=https://tidsskrift.dk/carlnielsenstudies/article/download/27745/24424 }}
* {{cite book |last=Viderø |first=Finn |author-link=Finn Viderø |year=1966 |chapter=The Organ Works |pages=69–74 |title=Carl Nielsen Centenary Essays }} In {{harvtxt|Balzer|1966}}.
* {{cite book |last1=White |first1=Harry |last2=Murphy |first2=Michael |year=2001 |title=Musical Constructions of Nationalism: Essays on the History and Ideology of European Musical Culture, 1800–1945 |publisher=Cork University Press |isbn=978-1-85918-153-9 }}
{{div col end}}

=== Obituaries ===
* {{cite journal |title=Carl Nielsen (Obituary) |journal=[[Musical America]] |volume=51 |issue=15 |page=41|date=10 October 1931}}
* {{cite journal |last=Lautrup |first=Charles |title=Art of Late Carl Nielsen Too Little Appreciated in America, says Compatriot (Tribute) |journal=[[Musical America]] |volume=51 |issue=16 |page=21|date=25 October 1931|ref=none}}
* {{cite journal |last=Behrend |first=William |title=Carl Nielsen † |journal=[[Die Musik]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |page=145 |url=https://archive.org/details/die-musik-24jg-1hj-1931-32-2/page/144/mode/2up |date=November 1931 |language=de |access-date=11 May 2020|ref=none}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://carlnielsen.dk/pages/biography.php The Danish Carl Nielsen Society]&nbsp;– provides much detailed information on the composer and his works, including an overview of upcoming concerts
* {{IMSLP|id=Nielsen,_Carl_August|cname=Carl Nielsen}}
* {{ChoralWiki}}
* {{BBC composer page|nielsen|Nielsen}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110619054009/http://www.kb.dk/en/kb/nb/mta/cnu The Carl Nielsen Edition]&nbsp;– index page to introductory information on many of Nielsen's works from the Royal Danish Library
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q7780|label=Carl Nielsen}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110518050717/http://www.kb.dk/da/kb/nb/mta/cnu/cn_bibl.html Carl Nielsen bibliography 1985–2008] at the Royal Danish Library
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205734/http://museum.odense.dk/en/museums/carl-nielsen-museum/the-carl-nielsen-museum The Carl Nielsen Museum], [[Odense]]&nbsp;– "is a museum dedicated to the composer Carl Nielsen and to his wife, the sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen".
* [[scores:Carl Nielsen som Symfoniker (Jeppesen, Knud)|''Carl Nielsen som symfoniker'' (1951–1954)]], [[Knud Jeppesen]]'s 44 lectures, [[International Music Score Library Project]] (IMSLP) {{in lang|da}}
<!--* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071118211729/http://www.kunststyrelsen.dk/nielsen/index.htm Carl Nielsen] exhibit by Knud Ketting at Kunststyrelsen-->

{{Carl Nielsen}}
{{Romantic music}}
{{Musical nationalism}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music|Denmark|Music|Opera}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nielsen, Carl}}
[[Category:Carl Nielsen| ]]
[[Category:1865 births]]
[[Category:1931 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Danish classical composers]]
[[Category:19th-century classical violinists]]
[[Category:19th-century conductors (music)]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish classical composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish classical violinists]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish conductors (music)]]
[[Category:19th-century Danish letter writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish letter writers]]
[[Category:20th-century diarists]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish male musicians]]
[[Category:String quartet composers]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the Royal Danish Academy of Music]]
[[Category:Burials at Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Composers for piano]]
[[Category:Composers for pipe organ]]
[[Category:Danish music educators]]
[[Category:Danish opera composers]]
[[Category:Danish Romantic composers]]
[[Category:Directors of the Royal Danish Academy of Music]]
[[Category:Danish male classical violinists]]
[[Category:Danish male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Danish male opera composers]]
[[Category:People from Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality]]
[[Category:Royal Danish Academy of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Pupils of Niels Gade]]