Rudolph Simonsen

Full biography Rudolph Simonsen

Rudolph Simonsen (1889-1947) was a Danish composer and musician who is known for his classical music compositions. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and later received his musical training at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in the same city.

Simonsen began his career writing music for the theater, but is best known for his symphonies with distinct national themes. He composed four symphonies in total: "Zion" (1915), "Hellas" (1921), "Roma" (1923), and "Juda" (1927). The latter, "Juda", is particularly noteworthy, as it is believed to be the first Danish symphony with an explicitly Jewish program.

In 1928, Simonsen earned a bronze medal in the art competitions at the Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam. He was recognized for his musical composition "Danish-Festive March".

Simonsen was a prolific composer and is credited with creating a significant amount of Danish music for solo instruments and chamber ensembles. Some of his works include a clarinet quintet, piano quintet, and a piano concerto.

Overall, Rudolph Simonsen was an accomplished composer who contributed significantly to Danish music. He remains an important figure in the country's cultural history and his music is still celebrated today.