A Study Of Carl Nielsen's Middle Period Symphonies

This thesis analyzes the Fourth Symphony “Inextinguishable” and the Fifth Symphony,which are composed in the middle period,by Danish composer Carl Nielsen,and discusses the characteristics of the two symphonies.This thesis consists of four chapters:Chapter one depictures the background of Carl Nielsen's musical life,chronology and the reviews about his six symphonies' premieres.Chapter two,the author gives a brief introduction of the "progressive tonality" theory which was developing during the time of composing of his early symphonies,and points out the operation of this theory in his Fourth Symphony.This chapter explores,on the one hand,the traditional compositional techniques of programmatic contents,forms and thematic development,on the other hand,the innovative sides of the structural plans within a multi-movement symphony,double-tonality layouts and the using of timpani.Chapter three,based on his Fifth Symphony,defines its music style and the breakthrough in structures,and then focuses the influence of fourth symphony by programmatic contents,movement's structures and using of side drum.Based on the previous analyses,chapter four are the conclusions of the styles in his symphonies in his middle period,and a comment of his music in the context of the Western music history by the author.