Carl August Nielsen
(born June 9, 1865, Sortelung, near Norre Lyndelse, Den. — died Oct. 3, 1931, Copenhagen) Danish composer. He studied violin and trumpet as a child and began composing by imitating classical models. In 1890 he went to Germany to learn of newer developments and met
Johannes Brahms, whose music came to influence his own. His individual style — still following classical forms but using intense
chromaticism combined with a lyric, melodic strain — emerged after 1900. The last five of his six symphonies (1902 – 25) are the core of his work, but he also composed many short orchestra pieces, piano and chamber music, concertos for violin, flute, and clarinet, and a wind quintet.
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