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>
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