Find Music / Composers / Carl Nielsen / Symphony no 2 in B minor, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments"

Carl Nielsen

Overview
Available Recordings

Composition Types

Chamber Music (99)
Choral (15)
Concertos (58)
Incidental Music (5)
Operas (9)
Orchestral (157)
Organ (13)
Piano (29)
Songs (37)

Biography

Born: Jun 9, 1865; Denmark Died: Oct 3, 1931; Denmark Period: 20th Century

Although Finland's extraordinary Jean Sibelius may be foremost among Nordic composers, his contemporary, Carl Nielsen -- best known for six highly original symphonies and simple popular songs -- holds an honored place as Denmark's foremost post-Romantic musical ambassador, and has found considerable acclaim amongst musicians and audiences alike.

A painter by profession, Nielsen's father spent as much or more energy on his secondary Read more activities as a violinist, and it was in this way that young Carl received his first musical instruction. At 14 Carl auditioned for a position with a military wind ensemble at Odense (he was hired as a bugler, despite his lack of formal training on the instrument). During a visit to Copenhagen in 1883, Nielsen was introduced to composer Niels W. Gade, who suggested that the young musician enroll at the Conservatory for serious studies. During Nielsen's three years at the Conservatory (1884-1886) his primary subjects were violin and theory, and at no time did he actually receive formal instruction in composition. Nevertheless, in 1888 his Suite for Strings, Op.1 received a successful debut in Copenhagen.

In 1889 Nielsen was hired as a violinist at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, a position he retained until 1905 (though in 1891 he journeyed to Paris, where he met and married Danish sculptress Anne Marie Brodersen). During the 1890s Nielsen composed prolifically, and much of his output was put into print. By 1903 he had signed a contract with the Wilhelm Hansen publishing firm in Copenhagen, effectively ending his tenure with the Royal Theatre (though he would not officially resign for two more years). His career as a conductor began in 1908 when he accepted a staff position with the Royal Theatre Orchestra. From 1916 until his death in 1931 (of heart disease), he taught at the Royal Danish Conservatory.

Nielsen's music is highly individual in both content and construction, although only the symphonies and the three concertos (violin, flute, and clarinet) have earned places in the repertory outside Denmark (where many of his choral pieces have become part of the national heritage). Each of the three concertos is a worthy contribution to its instrument's literature, though perhaps the Clarinet Concerto deserves the most attention. While starting out from the perspective of Classical form and harmony, his music later developed into an "extended" tonal and even atonal language, born of his highly expressive melodic style.

Like his colleague Sibelius, Nielsen poured his finest material into the symphonic mold. From the early First Symphony of 1892 (which is one of the first such works to begin and end in different keys), to the famous Fourth Symphony ("The Inextinguishable," a reference to the enduring power of both life and music), each is a noble testament to a remarkable man's view of the world around him. Read less

Featured Carl Nielsen CDs & DVDs:

Grieg: Holberg Suite/Stenhammer: Serenade/Nielsen: Little Suite

Release Date: 04/14/2006 Label: Apex
Catalog: 927430752 Number of Discs: 1

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Sibelius, Nielsen: Violin Concertos / Vengerov, Barenboim

Release Date: 09/03/1996 Label: Teldec
Catalog: 13161 Number of Discs: 1

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Nielsen, Loeffler, Prokofiev / Chamber Music Northwest

Release Date: 06/10/1993 Label: Delos
Catalog: 3136 Number of Discs: 1

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Nielsen - The Collector's Edition

Release Date: 05/27/2008 Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 19429 Number of Discs: 7

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Nielsen: Complete Piano Works / Martin Roscoe

Release Date: 06/10/2008 Label: Hyperion
Catalog: 67591 Number of Discs: 2

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Work: Symphony no 2 in B minor, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments"

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Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 3 / Davis, London Symphony Orchestra

Label: Lso Live Catalog: 722 Release Date: 02/12/2013 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

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Nielsen: Complete Symphonies / Kuchar, Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra

Label: Brilliant Classics Catalog: 94419 Release Date: 09/25/2012 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Theodore Kuchar
Orchestra/Ensemble: Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra, Ostrava Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra
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Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 / Gilbert, New York Philharmonic

Label: Dacapo Catalog: 6220623 Release Date: 09/25/2012 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Erin Morley, Joshua Hopkins
Conductor: Alan Gilbert
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Philharmonic
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4.

Nielsen: Symphonies 1 - 4 / Rattle, Blomstedt, Danish Radio Symphony, City Of Birmingham Symphony

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 6784192 Release Date: 02/07/2012
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Peter Rasmussen, Kirsten Schultz
Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt, Simon Rattle
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

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5.

Carl Nielsen: The Danish Symphonist

Label: Membran / Scandinavian Classics Catalog: 233378 Release Date: 01/31/2012 Number of Discs: 10
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Rune Most, Malcolm Stewart, Frank Jarlsfelt, Johannes Soe Hansen ...
Conductor: Douglas Bostock
Orchestra/Ensemble: Scandinavian Chamber Players
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6.

Carl Nielsen - The Masterworks Vol. 1 - Orchestral Music

Label: Dacapo Catalog: 8206002 Release Date: 09/27/2011 Number of Discs: 6
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Thomas Dausgaard, Michael Schonwandt
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
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7.

Nielsen: The Symphonies / Vanska, Lahti SO, BBC Scottish SO

Label: Bis Catalog: 1839/40 Release Date: 11/30/2010 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra
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8.

Leonard Bernstein - The Symphony Edition [60-Disc Set]

Label: Sony Catalog: 768365 Release Date: 11/22/2010 Number of Discs: 60
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven, Hector Berlioz, Leonard Bernstein, Georges Bizet ...
Performer: Norman Scott, Regina Sarfaty, Nicholas Di Virgilio, Martina Arroyo ...
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Philharmonic, Juilliard Chorus, Columbus Boychoir ...
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9.

Nielsen: Symphonies No 2 & 3 / Schonwandt

Label: Naxos Catalog: 8570738 Release Date: 06/24/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Inger Dam-Jensen, Poul Elming
Conductor: Michael Schonwandt
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
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10.

Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 2 & 5 / Berglund, Royal Danish Orch

Label: Rca Victor Red Seal Catalog: 7884 Release Date: 06/12/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Paavo Berglund
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Danish Orchestra

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11.

Nielsen - The Collector's Edition

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 19429 Release Date: 05/27/2008 Number of Discs: 7
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes, Mogens Schmidt-Johansen, Kirsten Schultz, Bent Norup ...
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis, Herbert Blomstedt, Mogens Woldike, Iona Brown
Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Melos Ensemble London ...
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12.

Nielsen: Symphony no 2 / Stokowski, Danish National SO

Label: Video Artists International Catalog: 4437 Release Date: 01/08/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Leopold Stokowski
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

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13.

Nielsen: Symphonies 1,2,3&6

Label: Regis Catalog: 2046 Release Date: 01/01/2008 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Ole Schmidt
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra

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14.

Matrix 14 - Nielsen: Symphonies No 1 & 2 / Blomstedt

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 65306 Release Date: 11/13/2007 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra

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15.

Nielsen: Symphonies No 1-6 / Blomstedt, Danish Radio So

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 00829 Release Date: 10/02/2007 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
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16.

Classic Library - Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4, Etc

Label: Rca Victor Red Seal Catalog: 76237 Release Date: 03/28/2006 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Sioned Williams, James Galway
Conductor: Jean Martinon, Morton Gould
Orchestra/Ensemble: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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17.

Carl Nielsen Historic Collection Vol 1 - The 6 Symphonies

Label: Danacord Catalog: 351/53 Release Date: 02/03/2006 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Thomas Jensen, Erik Tuxen, Launy Grondahl
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra

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18.

Carl Nielsen Historic Collection Vol 6 - Songs, Choral Works

Label: Danacord Catalog: 365/37 Release Date: 02/03/2006 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Gerda Fleisher, Randi Teglbjerg, Elsa-Margrete Gardelli, Kjell Olsson ...
Conductor: Georg Hoeberg, Thomas Jensen, Mogens Wöldike, Sven Felumb ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Madrigal Choir, Tivoli Concert Orchestra ...

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19.

Prophet In Sweden - Nielsen: Symphonies, Saul & David / Mann

Label: Danacord Catalog: 627/30 Release Date: 02/03/2006 Number of Discs: 4
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Bo Lundborg, Hans Nerbe, Maria Ribbing, Inga-Lil Sannfrid ...
Conductor: Tor Mann
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Stockholm Opera Chorus, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

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20.

Nielsen: Complete Symphonies / Jarvi, Gothenburg So

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 000459602 Release Date: 08/09/2005 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Soile Isokoski, Jorma Hynninen
Conductor: Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

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21.

Nielsen: Complete Symphonies / Rozhdestvensky

Label: Chandos Catalog: 10271 Release Date: 01/25/2005 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Sölve Kingstedt, Daniel Kåse, Solveig Kringelborn, Karl Magnus Fredriksson ...
Conductor: Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

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22.

Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

Label: Membran / Scandinavian Classics Catalog: 220562 Release Date: 08/05/2003 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Graham Johns, Nicholas Cox
Conductor: Douglas Bostock

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23.

Nielsen: Symphonies No 2 And 5 / Osmo Vanska, Bbc Scottish

Label: Bis Catalog: 1289 Release Date: 06/24/2003 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Conductor: Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
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24.

Nielsen: The Complete Symphonies, Etc / Bostock, Et Al

Label: Classico Catalog: 296/9 Release Date: 03/25/2003 Number of Discs: 4
Composer: Carl Nielsen
Performer: Jan Lund, Eva Hess-Thaysen
Conductor: Douglas Bostock
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
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25.

Great Conductors Of The 20th Century - Leopold Stokowski

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 75480 Release Date: 02/11/2003 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Carl Nielsen, Percy Aldridge Grainger, Reinhold Gliere, Richard Wagner ...
Performer: Percy Aldridge Grainger
Conductor: Leopold Stokowski
Orchestra/Ensemble: Danish State Radio Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra ...
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