Carl A. Nielsen

Aladdin Suite (Op. 34/F. 89)

Danish composer, Carl Nielsen (1865-1931), was commissioned by the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, to write incidental music to a new production of Adam Oehlenschläger's "dramatic fairy tale" Aladdin, or The Miraculous Lamp, which was to be presented in February of 1919. Nielsen, always modest and regarding himself as primarily a musical craftsman, undertook the commission happily, writing much of this imaginative and melodic music in 1918. While Nielsen's symphonies are seen as more dramatic and experimental, this light-hearted incidental music still exhibits his originality, with his progressive harmonies and approach to the exotic dances.

Regrettably, the director of the play altered the instrumentation so that he could use the orchestra pit to build an extended stage, and he cut a significant portion of the music, leading to a furious Nielsen demanding that his name be removed from both posters and programs from the soon-to-be failed production. Still, the music proved very popular as Nielsen would frequently conduct various extracts both in Denmark and abroad to great acclaim. Seven of these extracts were combined into a suite after Nielsen's death.

Movements: 1. Oriental Festival March; 2. Aladdin's Dream/ Dance of the Morning Mist; 3. Hindu Dance; 4. Chinese Dance; 5. The Marketplace in Isphahan; 6. Dance of the Prisoners; 7. Negro Dance. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2(2nd dEH).2.2: 4.2.3.1:Timp.Perc(4-5): Clst: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Mix Chor (Mvmt 7 only; Available separately). Reprint edition.