4th Symphony (Nielsen)

The symphony No. 4, Opus 29, "The Inextinguishable" ( Det Uudslukkelige ) (composed 1914–1916) is a symphonic work by Carl Nielsen . It has a harsh tone-linguistic and musically dramatic character whose open passion has no equivalent in the composer's previous works (the lyrical, sublime Third Symphony was written almost three years earlier). Nevertheless, due to its classic four-movement structure and its moderate use of dissonances, the work does not seem as radical in retrospect as the Fifth Symphony that followed .

The fourth symphony consists of four movements. The total duration is about 38 minutes.

1. Allegro - violently uplifting, generally moving sentence, which unconventionally presents four themes but only carries out two.
2. Poco allegretto - a rather cheerful scherzo .
3. Poco adagio quasi andante - slow movement
4. Allegro - the “most warlike” movement in the work, not least because of the furious drum duel in it .