Carl Nielsen – European composer

Call for papers: Nielsen – European Composer University of Copenhagen, 21-22 April 2022

On behalf of research group Carl Nielsen – European Composer, University of Copenhagen, we hereby invite all early career as well as established scholars to submit proposals for papers that relate to the topic of Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) and parallel figures, which can be perceived as early modern composers within the context of European music history. The idea of the conference is to discuss in which ways European composers born in the 1860s–70s are modern composers and how we may understand their modernity.

The Carl Nielsen Project has since 2018 worked towards a monograph on Nielsen as a European composer. The conference will feed back into this work.

Firstly, we invite submissions for paper proposals that highlight new perspectives on Nielsen’s work. This includes, but is not restricted to, music for theatrical plays, music for special occasions, classicism as a source of renewal, how to compose opera around 1900, and Nielsen’s international reputation.

Secondly, we invite scholars that work on parallel figures in European music history to contribute to the ongoing discussion on how we may understand the modernity of composers of Nielsen’s generation. They represent modern music after Wagner and Brahms. In later historiography, they were often perceived as national composers, thus ignoring their modernity, or had a hard time when more radical concepts of modernism were established in the early 20th century. In which ways do their contributions since the 1890s represent or perform new perceptions of modern life and modernity?

We are proud to announce Daniel M. Grimley and Julian Horton as key-note speakers.

The conference is organized by an organizing committee:

Professor Michael Fjeldsøe, University of Copenhagen (chair)
Professor Daniel M. Grimley, University of Oxford
Dr Christopher Tarrant, University of Newcastle
Dr Katarina Smitt Engberg, University of Copenhagen
Dr Bjarke Moe, University of Copenhagen

The language of the conference will be English. Papers should not exceed 20 minutes in duration. Submission of proposals for papers (including name, email, title, abstract (200 words) and A/V requirements) should to be sent to Michael Fjeldsøe on mail fjeldsoe@hum.ku.dk not later than 13 January 2022. Acceptance of proposal will be announced by the end of January.

The conference is supported by Carl Nielsen og Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Legat.

Interpreting Nielsen

THE CONFERENCE IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS.

Carl Nielsen conference in Copenhagen, Thursday 16 April 2020.

University of Copenhagen, Department of Arts and Cultural Studies, room 16.4.11.

The conference will focus on interpretations of Nielsen’s music and the role of analysis and analytical approaches for different interpretations of Nielsen. The conference is the first part of a two-part conference, which continues at Newcastle University on 17-18 September 2020.

What kind of analysis answers what kind of questions? How are analytical approaches interacting with interpretation in wider contexts? The conference wants to discuss analysis as an approach to musical interpretation. Nielsen’s music is open to a wide range of interpretive strategies. He is a composer who works across genres, approaches different audiences and makes deliberate stylistic choices according to a given task. This gives an excellent possibility to test different approaches and their ability to provide convincing arguments and interpretations. The follow-up conference will open the question of interpreting Nielsen in a much wider range of topics.

The conference will work with a semi-open call for papers. As it is a one-day conference with invited key speakers there will be limited space for additional papers. However, all are invited to give in proposals for the Newcastle conference that follows.

Key note speaker:
Christopher Tarrent, Newcastle.

Please contact Michael Fjeldsøe.

1st Biennial Carl Nielsen Studies Conference

1st Biennial Carl Nielsen Studies Conference will be held at Newcastle University on the 17th and 18th of September 2021. The conference is organized by Newcastle University in cooperation with the Carl Nielsen Project at University of Copenhagen. See the conference website.