En snes danske viser (A Score of Danish Songs) was the product of a collaboration between Carl Nielsen and his colleague Thomas Laub (1852-1927). Contrary to the volume's title, there were 23 songs in all, 12 of which were by Nielsen. A second volume appeared in 1917, bringing the total among the two collections to 45 songs.

In the 1890s, Nielsen and Laub were both rapidly emerging figures in the musical life of Copenhagen. Laub was known for his work in the field of church music, while Nielsen was writing secular pieces. Though the two composers had differing viewpoints in this respect (Nielsen was somewhat put off by Laub's more conservative, sacred leanings), they nonetheless shared a mutual respect and supported each other's efforts. In 1914 the two began work on this collaboration, with the intent of reforming the modern Danish song tradition. To this day, many of the songs contained in the two collections are renowned among Danes and are kept alive in Danish schools and homes.

Nielsen described the background of the first volume to a reporter at the time: "Laub came to me in November of last year [1914] and suggested that he and I should set to music the songs and poems of some good poets. He said: 'If only we could turn the public's taste a hand's breadth towards the simple, the comprehensible, and the purely melodic without lowering the standard, we should win merit for ourselves at a time when songs have more and more become identical with long and difficult piano pieces, where words and tune must often struggle through as best they can.' I found this suggestion so good that I immediately agreed to make the attempt."

Works by several of Denmark's leading poets were adopted for this venture, including Hans Christian Andersen, Oehlenschläger, Møller, Aarestrup, and others. Nielsen declared that "our aim has been to enter into the time and the spirit of the poems without any form of stylization." Put another way, in seeking to capture the Danish spirit as effectively as possible, he fashioned a direct, popular style, free of chromatic coloration and overstressed modulations. Among the standouts in this first collection include Nielsen's "De Refsnæ Drenge" (The Refsnæs Boys) with text by Blicher, Oehlenschläger's "Underlige Aftenlufte" (Strange Airs of Evening), Hauch's "Vender sig Lykken fra dig" (Should happiness turn away from you), and Jepper Aakjær's "Jeg bærer med Smil min Byrde" (With song I bear my burden) and "Nu er Dagenfuld af Sang" (Now is the day full of song).

In the 20-odd Danish songs, Nielsen proved his ability to develop a popular, simple style, setting the course for his vocal compositions over the next decade.

© Brian Wise, All Music Guide