(1865 - 1931)
Carl Nielsen was born on the Danish island of Funen in1865, the seventh of 12 children. Though desperately poor in material terms, Nielsen grew up enjoying the love and support of his family, a shared joy in communal music-making and an intense appreciation of the wonders of the natural world. Nielsen initially learned the violin from his father and, in his teens, played in various local bands and orchestras. His earliest compositions date from around this time. In 1884, after four years as a military bandsman in Odense, and with the help of local benefactors, Nielsen was able to attend Copenhagen Conservatory. There he received instruction in musical theory from Orla Rosenhoff, who encouraged Nielsen’s growing interest in composition. In 1888, the 23-year-old enjoyed his first success with his Little Suite for strings, Op. 1. During the following year, Nielsen became a violinist at the Royal Danish Orchestra, a post he was to hold for some 16 years.
Carl Nielsen Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Clarinet Concerto
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Snare drum
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Symphony No 5
Timpani + 3 percussion (+ 1 poss. offstage)
Triangle, tambourine, 2 snare drums, suspended cymbal, clash cymbals
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Symphony No 6
Timpani
Int'l 32/29/26 Prem 32/30/28
3 percussion
Glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, orchestral bass drum, xylophone, snare drum, triangle
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