Carl Nielsen - Carl Nielsen's Students

Carl Nielsen's Students

From 1915, Nielsen taught at the Royal Conservatory where he became director in 1931, shortly before his death. He also had a number of private students in his earlier days in order to supplement his income. As a result of his teaching, Nielsen has exerted considerable influence on classical music in Denmark. Among his most successful pupils were:

• Thorvald Aagaard (1877–1937), who collaborated with Nielsen and Thomas Laub in publishing Folkehøjskolens Melodibog, a highly popular work grouping melodies for hymns and folksongs.
• Emilius Bangert (1883–1962), who assisted Nielsen in notating and transcribing a number of his compositions, wrote a symphony, overture, string quartet, sonatas, choral works and songs.
• Jørgen Bentzon (1897–1951) who composed a considerable number of works ranging from chamber music to a symphony.
• Nancy Dalberg (1881–1949), who was the first Danish woman to compose a symphony, helped Nielsen with orchestration and notation work, especially in connection with Fynsk Foraar. Her chamber music has become part of the Nordic repertoire.
• Knud Jeppesen (1892–1974), a composer and internationally recognised musicologist, who did much to promote Nielsen's music outside Denmark.
• Herman Koppel (1908–1998) who wrote 13 symphonies, numerous concertos, and 20 string quartets.
• Rudolph Simonsen (1889–1947), a disciple of Nielsen's, who became chairman of the Conservatory after Nielsen's death in 1931.
• Mogens Wöldike (1897–1988), one of Denmark's most influential conductors and choirmasters in the late 20th century, who made recordings of many of Nielsen's works.