Ludolf Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Ludolf Nielsen was a Danish
composer
, violin
ist, conductor
, and a pianist
. Today he is considered as one of the most important Danish composers of the early 1900s (together with the more famous Carl Nielsen
).
, although his family lacked any musicians Ludolf took to music at a very young age. After a few years of taking violin lessons from local fiddlers, when he was eight he played at local festivals and other country occasions. In his mid-teens, he moved to Copenhagen
, which exposed to a much more musical society. When he was 19, Ludolf won a scholarship to the Danish Royal Academy of Music from a contest. There, he studied violin
, piano
, and music theory. Supposedly, his composing talents were self-taught. When he was about 20, Nielsen started composing music, and Tivoli Orchestra hired him as a violinist. Some of his works were performed in 1899, but his first major success was with the symphonic poem
Regnar Lodbrog which gained him an additional scholarship that let him spend time in the musically rich city of Leipzig
, there he composed a few string quartets and had them published. He returned to Copenhagen and was conductor of the Trivoli Orchestra. In 1902, he composed his First Symphony, and between 1903 – 1905 a tone poem From the Mountains. Just after his marriage in 1907 Nielsen composed a Romance for Violin (1908) and his Second Symphony (1907 – 1909). Like many other artists, World War I
had a very profound affect on Nielsen, for years he didn't write anything until 1914 with his Third Symphony in C. After the War, he became a private music teacher for a period of time, then returned to composing. The two most important works from this period are his ballet Lackschmi (1922) and the orchestral suite Skovvandring (Forest Journey), then Nielsen wrote almost 100 Lieder. Between 1926 and 1939, Ludolf worked as a programmer for the Danish National Radio Corporation, with the exception of a few radio plays, he ceased composing. On October 16, 1939 at the age of 63 Nielsen died in Copenhagen.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. Today he is considered as one of the most important Danish composers of the early 1900s (together with the more famous Carl Nielsen
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
).
Life
Nielsen was born in Nørre Tvede, DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, although his family lacked any musicians Ludolf took to music at a very young age. After a few years of taking violin lessons from local fiddlers, when he was eight he played at local festivals and other country occasions. In his mid-teens, he moved to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, which exposed to a much more musical society. When he was 19, Ludolf won a scholarship to the Danish Royal Academy of Music from a contest. There, he studied violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and music theory. Supposedly, his composing talents were self-taught. When he was about 20, Nielsen started composing music, and Tivoli Orchestra hired him as a violinist. Some of his works were performed in 1899, but his first major success was with the symphonic poem
Symphonic poem
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section in which the content of a poem, a story or novel, a painting, a landscape or another source is illustrated or evoked. The term was first applied by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to his 13 works in this vein...
Regnar Lodbrog which gained him an additional scholarship that let him spend time in the musically rich city of Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, there he composed a few string quartets and had them published. He returned to Copenhagen and was conductor of the Trivoli Orchestra. In 1902, he composed his First Symphony, and between 1903 – 1905 a tone poem From the Mountains. Just after his marriage in 1907 Nielsen composed a Romance for Violin (1908) and his Second Symphony (1907 – 1909). Like many other artists, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
had a very profound affect on Nielsen, for years he didn't write anything until 1914 with his Third Symphony in C. After the War, he became a private music teacher for a period of time, then returned to composing. The two most important works from this period are his ballet Lackschmi (1922) and the orchestral suite Skovvandring (Forest Journey), then Nielsen wrote almost 100 Lieder. Between 1926 and 1939, Ludolf worked as a programmer for the Danish National Radio Corporation, with the exception of a few radio plays, he ceased composing. On October 16, 1939 at the age of 63 Nielsen died in Copenhagen.