Viggo Emil Bielefeldt (16 October 1851 – 17 December 1909) was a Danish

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

singer Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...

and

music teacher Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do origina ...

. His father Heinrich Hellmuth Bielefeldt was an immigrant from Mecklenburg, Germany.

Life and career

Bielefeldt was educated at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music from 1867–1869 in among other things, singing and piano with Carl Helsted and August Winding respectively as teachers. He debuted as a romance singer on 2 March 1872 and was thereafter a well-known and valued singer in this field In addition, he was a

singing teacher A voice teacher or singing teacher is a musical instructor who assists adults and children in the development of their abilities in singing. Typical work A voice teacher works with a student singer to improve the various skills involved in sing ...

at Horneman's music school and from 1883 at the

Conservatory of Music A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department (of a larger in ...

. From 1880 he was cantor at Trinitatis Kirke and from 1887 at

Holmens Kirke The Holmen Church () is a Parish church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the weddi ...

. For a time, shortly after Gade's death, he was also organist at the same church. In 1900 he was appointed titular professor. In 1892 he became a

Knight of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known as ''White Knights'' t ...

and in 1905 a

Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn Dannebrogordenens Hæderstegn, also referred to as the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog (post-nominals: D.Ht.), is a meritous award connected to the Danish Order of the Dannebrog. The cross was instituted by King Frederick VI of Den ...

. He is buried at Hellerup Kirkegård, with a gravestone made by J. Schannongs Granit-Industri.

Works

*A Honeymoon (mixed choir) *David's 8th Psalme (male choir, tenor solo and brass instruments – 1883) *Singing exercises (together with Emil Horneman) *Melodies for the Book of Psalms for Church and Home - published by V. Bielefeldt (choral book - 1900) *Mess book *Masonic Cantata *Cantata at the centennial celebration for the Battle of the Nest (1901)

References

*''This article was initially translated from the Danish Wikipedia.'' Danish composers Danish male composers 1851 births 1909 deaths 19th-century Danish male musicians 19th-century Danish musicians Burials at Hellerup Cemetery {{Denmark-composer-stub