Nancy Dalberg

Nancy Dalberg (born Nancy Hansen, 6 July 1881 – 28 September 1949) was a Danish composer. Born into a wealthy family, she studied under notable composers such as Johan Svendsen and Carl Nielsen, the latter becoming a good friend and a significant figure in her life. In addition to the orchestral works mentioned, she wrote around fifty songs, including three for voice and orchestra.

Life

Nancy Dalberg was born at the estate on the Danish island of Funen (Fyn), where she was raised in a manor house. Her father, Christian D. A. Hansen, was a well-off manufacturer as the founder of Chr. Hansen, a factory for chemical products for the food industry, which is still one of Denmark's leading companies. The family was always well-off financially, which meant that Nancy didn't have to worry about her income, which her music most of the time couldn't promise.

From a young age she was steered toward a musical career, partly due to her acquaintance with the composer Hilda Sehested, who was twenty years her senior and from the nearby Broholm estate. As was customary, she received private piano instruction from Ove Christensen, making her debut in 1907. Unfortunately her father refused her wish to study at the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen.

She was the first Danish woman composer to write a symphony. It was premiered to critical acclaim although it was noted with surprise that Dalberg was a woman.