Programme Notes - Nielsen's Fifth Symphony

Symphony No.5, Op.50

Carl August Nielsen
Born 9th June 1865, Nørre Lyndelse, Denmark
Died 3rd October 1931, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Symphony No.5, Op.50 is a piece written by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen over two years beginning in 1920, and was premiered in Copenhagen on 24th January 1922 with Nielsen conducting. This symphony is one of only two of Nielsen's which are untitled.

Carl August Nielsen started life bought up as one of 12 children to a poor peasant family. His parents were musically inclined however; his father was an amateur fiddler and cornet player, and his mother a singer of folk songs. He first learnt violin from his father, and in his teens played in local bands and orchestras.

At age 19 Nielsen attended Copenhagen Conservatory, where he studied composition, and in 1891 joined the Royal Danish Orchestra as a violinist, a position he held for 16 years. Nielsen's compositional maturity developed during the years up to and into the 20th century. Around the time of the First World War his works took on a darker character, specifically the fourth, fifth and sixth symphonies, exhibiting themes of intense struggle.

Symphony No.5 departs from the standard symphony structure, instead being comprised of two contrasting movements. This is slightly deceptive however, as each movement contains within it two distinct sections. The work also showcases Nielsen's innovations in 'progressive tonality' - the piece starting and ending in a different key.

The piece starts with a two-note alternation from the violas, and is shortly joined by the bassoon and other woodwinds. The feeling evoked, although calm and tranquil, hints at forthcoming drama. This pastoral sound continues to wash over you for several minutes, until a snare drum interrupts the mood, battling the rest of the orchestra. The rest of the movement see's a backwards and forwards struggle as both the drum and the orchestra vie for dominance. After a desperate ending skirmish where the snare is instructed to improvise furiously to unbalance the rest of the ensemble, the drummer is finally pushed back by the full force of the orchestra.

The second movement rises like a phoenix from the ashes of the first, bursting with jollity and hope. Massive peaks and troughs in tempo and dynamics create a vibrant scene, and the symphony ends with a magnificent flourish - a cry of victory.

"the division of dark and light, the battle between evil and good"
Carl Nielsen, on his Symphony No.5