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I. Tempo giusto - Adagio
reh. 7 - reh. 8 |
Skills & Techniques: Phrasing
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Horn 1 (F)
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San Francisco Symphony (1988)
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Ireland National Symphony Orchestra (1994)
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I. Tempo giusto - Adagio
adagio after reh. 11 -a tempo before reh. 13 |
Skills & Techniques: Dynamic Contrast, Marcato Playing, Slurred Flexibility
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Horn 1 (F)
Horn 2 (F)
Horn 3 (F)
Horn 4 (F)
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San Francisco Symphony (1988)
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Ireland National Symphony Orchestra (1994)
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II. Allegro - Presto - Andante poco tranquillo
6 mm. after reh. 26 - reh. 27 |
Skills & Techniques: Accuracy, Phrasing, Slurred Flexibility
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Horn 1 (F)
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San Francisco Symphony (1988)
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Ireland National Symphony Orchestra (1994)
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Composer & Composition Information
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
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Carl August Nielsen was born on 9th June 1865 at Sortelung near Nørre Lyndelse on the island of Funen. His father, who was a painter, also worked as a village musician, and as a boy Carl was already playing in his father's dance orchestra. At the same time he played in the local amateur orchestra, Braga, whose repertoire, besides entertainment and dance music, also included the symphonies of Vienna Classicism. At the age of just fourteen he was engaged as a trombonist in the regimental band in Odense.
Alongside his work as a military musician he played string quartets with his friends and studied Das Wohltemperierte Klavier on his own initiative. From these years came his first real attempts at composition - mainly chamber music works in the Classical style. Thanks to patrons in Odense, Carl Nielsen had the chance to go to Copenhagen, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Music in 1884-86 with the violin as his main subject and the Joachim pupil Valdemar Tofte as his teacher. He was also taught theory (by J.P.E. Hartmann and Orla Rosenhoff), piano (by Gottfred Matthison-Hansen) and music history (by Niels W. Gade). The text & image are reprinted from Wise Music Classical where more information about the composer can be found. |
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Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97
Of the three composers on this program, Carl Nielsen had the earliest and most natural experience of "national" music in the form of Danish popular music. In his autobiography, he clearly recalls his mother singing folk songs, and he joined his father in music for weddings and parties as soon as he acquired some skill on the violin.
Yet Nielsen is also in many ways the least "national" of these three composers, though he was and is a musical hero in Denmark. He composed many songs, lots of incidental music for Danish plays, and cantatas for all manner of patriotic and civic occasions, ranging from the anniversary of Copenhagen University to the opening of a public swimming pool.
But it is for more abstract pieces - six highly idiosyncratic symphonies and concertos for violin, flute, and clarinet - that he is best known. His early work sits fairly comfortably in the Romantic version of Viennese classical traditions, particularly as embodied by Brahms. His later works extend this into a sort of personal neo-classicism.
The text is written by & reprinted from John Henken (Los Angeles Philharmonic) where more information about the composition can be found.
Yet Nielsen is also in many ways the least "national" of these three composers, though he was and is a musical hero in Denmark. He composed many songs, lots of incidental music for Danish plays, and cantatas for all manner of patriotic and civic occasions, ranging from the anniversary of Copenhagen University to the opening of a public swimming pool.
But it is for more abstract pieces - six highly idiosyncratic symphonies and concertos for violin, flute, and clarinet - that he is best known. His early work sits fairly comfortably in the Romantic version of Viennese classical traditions, particularly as embodied by Brahms. His later works extend this into a sort of personal neo-classicism.
The text is written by & reprinted from John Henken (Los Angeles Philharmonic) where more information about the composition can be found.
Notable Performances/Recordings:
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (2022)
London Symphony Orchestra (2015)
New York Philharmonic (2015)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (2003)
The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1995)
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (2022)
London Symphony Orchestra (2015)
New York Philharmonic (2015)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (2003)
The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1995)