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	Carl August Nielsen (Danish: kɑːl ˈnelsn̩, 1865–1931) was a Danish composer, violinist and conductor, considered by many as his country's most important composer. Nielsen was born on June 9, 1865, on the Danish island of Funen, the seventh of twelve children in a farming family. His father, apart from being a farmer, was also a traditional musician, playing viola and cornet at celebrations and events on the island. In some of the celebrations his mother sang traditional songs. At the age of six they bought him a violin. He learned violin and piano, and wrote his first compositions at the age of nine. At 14, his parents found him a job in a shop in a nearby village, considering that he had no future in music. The shopkeeper went bankrupt and Carl returned to his hometown where he learned to play the brass and joined the military band. In 1884 he was admitted to the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and left the military band to study. There he got a firm grounding in music theory, progressed to violin studies and also studied composition. He graduated and began playing the violin, earning a place in the Royal Danish Orchestra. After a year he won a scholarship and was given the opportunity to spend several months in Europe, during which he heard leading orchestras and met great soloists of Europe. In Paris he met the sculptor Anna Maria Brodersen, who was also traveling on a scholarship. They traveled to Italy together and married in 1891. Anna Maria was a dynamic artist who would spend long periods away from home leaving Carl to raise their three children. Carl had 2 more children with different women and although they lived apart from time to time he remained married to Anna Maria until the end of his life. He was not considered particularly successful during his lifetime. His works later entered the international repertoire, especially after the 1960s. Nielsen is best known today for his six symphonies and concertos for violin, flute and clarinet. In Denmark, the opera Maskarade and many of his songs have become an integral part of the national heritage. Nielsen died on October 3 after a series of heart attacks, surrounded by his family. His last words to them were: "You stand here as if you are waiting for something"

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Nielsen Carl 1865 - 1931 (66)

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Carl August Nielsen (Danish: kɑːl ˈnelsn̩, 1865–1931) was a Danish composer, violinist and conductor, considered by many as his country's most important composer.

Nielsen was born on June 9, 1865, on the Danish island of Funen, the seventh of twelve children in a farming family. His father, apart from being a farmer, was also a traditional musician, playing viola and cornet at celebrations and events on the island. In some of the celebrations his mother sang traditional songs. At the age of six they bought him a violin. He learned violin and piano, and wrote his first compositions at the age of nine. At 14, his parents found him a job in a shop in a nearby village, considering that he had no future in music. The shopkeeper went bankrupt and Carl returned to his hometown where he learned to play the brass and joined the military band. In 1884 he was admitted to the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and left the military band to study. There he got a firm grounding in music theory, progressed to violin studies and also studied composition.

He graduated and began playing the violin, earning a place in the Royal Danish Orchestra. After a year he won a scholarship and was given the opportunity to spend several months in Europe, during which he heard leading orchestras and met great soloists of Europe. In Paris he met the sculptor Anna Maria Brodersen, who was also traveling on a scholarship. They traveled to Italy together and married in 1891. Anna Maria was a dynamic artist who would spend long periods away from home leaving Carl to raise their three children. Carl had 2 more children with different women and although they lived apart from time to time he remained married to Anna Maria until the end of his life.

He was not considered particularly successful during his lifetime. His works later entered the international repertoire, especially after the 1960s. Nielsen is best known today for his six symphonies and concertos for violin, flute and clarinet. In Denmark, the opera Maskarade and many of his songs have become an integral part of the national heritage.

Nielsen died on October 3 after a series of heart attacks, surrounded by his family. His last words to them were: "You stand here as if you are waiting for something"