The Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was a principal figure in 20th-century Scandinavian music - his work progressive in style and technique. In this biography he emerges as an energetic individual - more dynamic than the popular image of him as a dreamy country boy who rose fom poverty to become Denmark's most influential composer. The text offers a subtle analysis of the composer's complex personality and shows that far from being provincial and naive, Nielsen was well-read widely travelled and deeply immersed in European culture.
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Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) is one of those composers who tend to be a late discovery on the part of lovers of classical music. Yet he need not be an acquired taste; this is powerful, well-written music, fashioned on a classical, rather than romantic, base, and every bit as accessible as his better-known and more popular Scandinavian contemporary, Jean Sibelius. Nielsen is Denmark's one great claim to compositional fame, and in this new biography Jack Lawson traces his rise from impoverished farm boy to a dominant musical figure in the life of his country, and of Europe, not to mention to the position of one of the greatest symphony writers of all time. This is one of Phaidon's 20th-Century Composers series, and as such strives to make its subject as accessible as possible to the music lover who is not necessarily a music expert.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A bit bland.,
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This review is from: Carl Nielsen (20th Century Composers) (Paperback)
If you know nothing about Danish composer Carl Nielsen's music, this is not the place to start. Hear something first. Most composers don't lead especially interesting lives. We are interested mainly in their music. I'd start with the Helios Overture. If it intrigues you, go on to other pieces, like the symphonies, and only then if you want to know about the man, start here. It's as good a place as any. Lawson has the advantage of a dearth of biographies on this composer, due in large measure to the family's refusal to release many of the composer's papers. A Nielsen fan of forty years, I knew most of this stuff. The big revelations had to do with his marriage, which suffered strains. You can read all about it. Other than that, it's mainly a recital of Nielsen's career, and you can get most of the essentials from an encyclopedia article. The best thing about the book, as far as I'm concerned, is its handsome production. The photos of Nielsen the boy, which face the title page, are absolutely extraordinary.
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