This is the fifth volume of Carl Nielsen Studies which is an annual publication issuing from the Royal Library of Denmark, also home to the Carl Nielsen edition. These volumes provide a forum for the spectrum of historical, analytical and aesthetic approaches to the study of Nielsen's music from an international line-up of contributors. In addition, each volume features reviews and reports on current Nielsen projects and an updated Nielsen bibliography. Carl Nielsen Studies is distributed outside Scandinavia by Ashgate; distribution within Scandinavia is handled by The Royal Library, Copenhagen, PB 2149, DK 1016 K, Denmark.

Carl Nielsen is generally considered to be Denmark's greatest composer. His works cover the full range of musical genres: symphonies and operas, chamber music, pieces for piano, and songs. Whereas in Denmark Carl Nielsen is especially loved for his Danish songs and the opera Maskarade, internationally he is primarily known for his instrumental music. Collecting, cataloguing and organising the musical manuscripts of this composer has been carried out for the benefit of the Danish and international music community.

This richly illustrated book outlines the strong Vitalistic movement in Denmark during the period 1890-1940. This movement emerged as a response to the rationalism and one-sided intellectualism of a rigid, bourgeois, or decadent culture of the 19th century. It constituted a number of cultural currents that were manifested in philosophy, art, and everyday life, with an emphasis on the energy of youth, the dynamic personality, and the potential of the body. Viewed in the wider perspective, the aim of Vitalism's cult of the body was a revitalization that was to benefit not only the individual human being, but the whole of culture. Although the Vitalistic themes emanated from modern life, they also drew artistic sustenance from Nordic mythology and Greek antiquity, which served as the most important ideals in the modern pursuit of both physical and spiritual beauty. Additionally, the book highlights the prevalence of the interest in health and exercise and an increased attentiveness to hyg

Beryl Foster's authoritative study can claim to be the most thorough investigation of this repertoire yet to have appeared in English, and is likely to remain the standard work on the subject for many years to come. TLS --