Nielsen first made his mark as a composer with his Little Suite, Op. 1 for string orchestra. The suite, the Bohemian-Danish Folk Melody, and the Andante lamentoso, subtitled "At the Bier of a Young Artist," are his only works for string orchestra. This touching little work, originally for string quartet, was written in memory of Nielsen's painter friend Oluf Hartmann, who died in early 1910 at age thirty, and was first performed at his funeral. It was also among the musical tributes paid to Nielsen at his own funeral service, on October 9, 1931, at Copenhagen's Free Church. The work remained unpublished until 1942.

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