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 keynote 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, Newcastle University

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.