Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)

Donald Macleod explores Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, through his temperaments Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) is probably the most eminent Danish composer. Known mainly for his talent as a symphonist and for his incidental music for 'Aladdin', he also pushed the boundaries of Romantic music, whether in his work on the voice or his exploration of dissonance. Born in the fairy tale-looking island of Fyn, his music is indeed full of characters: Nielsen was fascinated by the multiplicity of human emotions and personalities. To the extent that they frequently were the source of his musical creativity. After all, he was himself a passionate character, something that transpires in his very scores, in which the composer often hides behind the music. This week, inspired by his second and fourth symphonies, Donald Macleod invites you to discover Carl Nielsen's story through the prism of five different aspects of his temperament.

Music Featured:

Saul og David (Prelude to Act II) Symphony No 2, Op 16, FS29 ‘The Four Temperaments’ Fynsk Forar, Op 42 (excerpt) Polka in A major, FS1 Little Suite for strings in A minor, Op 1 (3rd mvt) Aladdin Suite, Op 34 (excerpt) Søvnen, Op 18 String Quartet in D Minor, FS 3d (3rd mvt) Saga-Drøm, Op 39, FS 46 Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, FS 119 (1st mvt) The Heavens darken, vast and silent, FS 106 Dream about ‘Silent Night’, FS 34 Farewell, my respectable native town! String Quartet No 1 in G minor, Op 13, FS 4 (excerpt) Humoresque Bagatelles Moderen [The Mother], Op 41 (No 2, Tågen letter “The Fog is Lifting”) String Quartet No 2 in F minor, Op 5 (excerpt) Romance in D major for violin and piano Hymnus amoris [Hymn of Love] for soloists, choir and orchestra, Op 12 (No 4, Old Age) Three Motets (No 3, Benedictus Dominus) 5 Songs, FS 12 (No 4, Irmelin Rose) Piano Suite "The Luciferan", FS 91, Op 45 (excerpt) String Quartet No 3 in E-flat major, FS 23, Op 14 (excerpt) Symphony No 3, Op 27, FS 60 "Sinfonia espansiva" (3rd mvt) Maskarade, FS 39, Act III (excerpt) Symphonic Suite for Piano, Op 8, FS 19 (4th mvt, Finale) Stophic Songs, FS 42, Vol 2, No 1, "Saenk kun dit hoved, du blomst" The Spider’s Song Jens Vejmand (arr. Finn Savery) Helios, Op 17, FS 32 Violin Concerto, Op 33, FS 61 (Preludium) Symphony No 6 "Sinfonia semplice", FS 116 (4th mvt, Tema con variazioni) Symphony No 4 "The Inextinguishable", Op 29, FS 76 (4th mvt)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Julien Rosa for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029j16 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z