Aage Oxenvad
Encyclopedia
Aage Oxenvad was a Danish
clarinetist who played in the Royal Danish Orchestra
from 1909. Carl Nielsen
wrote his Clarinet Concerto
for Oxenvad who played at its premiere in 1928.
in the north of Jutland
on 16 January 1884. As a child, he played the flute for dances with his father, the local musician, until he took up the clarinet when he was 12. He travelled every two weeks to Copenhagen
to study with Carl Skjerne, the solo clarinetist with the Royal Danish Orchestra, who had studied under Richard Mühlfeld
. Oxenvad studied at the Royal Conservatory (1903–1905) and for a short peried in Paris.
rather than the Oehler which Skjerne preferred. He was solo clarinetist from 1919 until his death in 1944. In an interview published in connection with his 60th birthday, Oxenvad explained he preferred living in a small house in the suburbs rather than in a flat in the centre where he worked. There he could chat with the local farmers and keep his own garden. He described the clarinet as "a living being, and must be treated like a woman, with a gentle yet firm hand...also unpredictable, like a woman...the clarinet is somber and expressive, and it possesses passion..."
In 1921, after being asked whether he could recommend Oxenvad, Carl Nielsen replied: "Mr. Oxenvad’s abilities and talent are highly exceptional in this country; not only his rare talent and skill as an instrumentalist, but his creative powers and theoretical knowledge are also uncommon. To this I can add that since he is responsive and understanding and his taste is flawless both in old and new art, it can hardly come as a surprise that I give
him my very warmest recommendation". Oxenvad also greatly admired Carl Nielsen: "I loved Carl Nielsen above all...he is Denmark's greatest composer." Perhaps the affinity was based on their similar roots, both being brought up by poor parents living in the country.
A reviewer of the Clarinet Concerto's premiere noted the great debt the work owed Oxenvad: "Hardly a more homogenous interpretation of this work could be imagined. Oxenvad has made a pact with trolls and giants. He has a temper, a primitive force harsh and clumsy, with a smattering of blue-eyed Danish amenity. Surely Carl Nielsen heard the sound of his clarinet when he wrote the Concerto."
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
clarinetist who played in the Royal Danish Orchestra
Royal Danish Orchestra
The Royal Danish Orchestra is a Danish orchestra based in Copenhagen. The Danish name for the orchestra indicates its original function as an ensemble geared to supplying the music for court events...
from 1909. Carl Nielsen
Carl Nielsen
Carl August Nielsen , , widely recognised as Denmark's greatest composer, was also a conductor and a violinist. Brought up by poor but musically talented parents on the island of Funen, he demonstrated his musical abilities at an early age...
wrote his Clarinet Concerto
Clarinet Concerto (Nielsen)
Carl Nielsen's Concerto for Clarinet and orchestra, op. 57 [D.F.129] was written for Danish clarinetist Aage Oxenvad in 1928. The concerto is presented in one long movement, with four distinct theme groups.-History:...
for Oxenvad who played at its premiere in 1928.
Early life
Aage Oxenvad was born in the little village of Gettrup, near ThistedThisted
Thisted is a town in Thisted municipality of Region Nordjylland, in Denmark. It has a population of 13,005 and is located in Thy, in northwestern Jutland....
in the north of Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
on 16 January 1884. As a child, he played the flute for dances with his father, the local musician, until he took up the clarinet when he was 12. He travelled every two weeks to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to study with Carl Skjerne, the solo clarinetist with the Royal Danish Orchestra, who had studied under Richard Mühlfeld
Richard Mühlfeld
Richard Mühlfeld was a German clarinettist who inspired Johannes Brahms and Gustav Jenner to write chamber works including the instrument...
. Oxenvad studied at the Royal Conservatory (1903–1905) and for a short peried in Paris.
Career
Oxenvad joined the Royal Danish Orchestra in 1909 where he was the first to play the Boehm clarinetBoehm system (clarinet)
The Boehm system for the clarinet is a system of clarinet keywork, developed between 1839 and 1843 by Hyacinthe Klosé and Auguste Buffet jeune. The name is somewhat deceptive; the system was inspired by Theobald Boehm's system for the flute, but necessarily differs from it, since the clarinet...
rather than the Oehler which Skjerne preferred. He was solo clarinetist from 1919 until his death in 1944. In an interview published in connection with his 60th birthday, Oxenvad explained he preferred living in a small house in the suburbs rather than in a flat in the centre where he worked. There he could chat with the local farmers and keep his own garden. He described the clarinet as "a living being, and must be treated like a woman, with a gentle yet firm hand...also unpredictable, like a woman...the clarinet is somber and expressive, and it possesses passion..."
In 1921, after being asked whether he could recommend Oxenvad, Carl Nielsen replied: "Mr. Oxenvad’s abilities and talent are highly exceptional in this country; not only his rare talent and skill as an instrumentalist, but his creative powers and theoretical knowledge are also uncommon. To this I can add that since he is responsive and understanding and his taste is flawless both in old and new art, it can hardly come as a surprise that I give
him my very warmest recommendation". Oxenvad also greatly admired Carl Nielsen: "I loved Carl Nielsen above all...he is Denmark's greatest composer." Perhaps the affinity was based on their similar roots, both being brought up by poor parents living in the country.
A reviewer of the Clarinet Concerto's premiere noted the great debt the work owed Oxenvad: "Hardly a more homogenous interpretation of this work could be imagined. Oxenvad has made a pact with trolls and giants. He has a temper, a primitive force harsh and clumsy, with a smattering of blue-eyed Danish amenity. Surely Carl Nielsen heard the sound of his clarinet when he wrote the Concerto."