Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) was a Danish musician, conductor and violinist, widely recognized as his country's greatest composer. Brought up by poor, musically talented parents, he attended the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen from 1884 through 1886, and premiered his Op 1, Suite for Strings at the age of 23. The following year, he began a 16-year stint as a second violinist in the Royal Danish Orchestra under the conductor Johan Svendsen, and later taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Music from 1916 until his death. While his symphonies, concertos and choral music are now internationally acclaimed, Nielsen's career and personal life were marked by many difficulties, often reflected in his music. The works he composed between 1897 and 1904 are sometimes ascribed to his "psychological" period, resulting mainly from a turbulent marriage with the sculptor Anne Marie Brodersen. Nielsen is especially noted for his six symphonies, his Wind Quintet and his concertos for violin, flute and clarinet. For many years, he appeared on the Danish hundred-kroner banknote. The Carl Nielsen Museum in Odense documents his life and that of his wife. Many performances of his works are scheduled in 2015, the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Nielsen
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
411 BC:
Wealthy Athenians overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens and replaced it with a short-lived oligarchy known as "The Four Hundred". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_coup_of_411_BC
1772:
In an act of defiance against the Navigation Acts, American patriots led by Abraham Whipple attacked and burned the British schooner Gaspee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspee_Affair
1862:
American Civil War: Confederate General Stonewall Jackson concluded his successful Shenandoah Valley Campaign with a victory in the Battle of Port Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson%27s_Valley_Campaign
1928:
Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew landed their Southern Cross aircraft in Brisbane, completing the first ever trans-Pacific flight from the United States mainland to Australia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kingsford_Smith
1965:
The Viet Cong commenced combat with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam in the Battle of Dong Xoai, one of the largest battles in the Vietnam War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dong_Xoai
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
caisson: 1. (military) A two-wheeled, horse-drawn military vehicle used to carry ammunition. 2. (engineering) A watertight retaining structure used in the construction of bridges. 3. (architecture) A sunken panel used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault; a coffer. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/caisson
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Be the poor silly ass And you'll always travel first class. Give 'em quips, give 'em fun, And they'll pay to say you're A–1. If you become a farmer, you've the weather to buck. If become a gambler you'll be struck with your luck. But jack you'll never lack if you can quack like a duck. Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown. --Cole Porter https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cole_Porter