Mette  Nielsen
Photo: Soffi Chanchira Larsen

Mette Nielsen

(1985-)

Mette Nielsen often works with what she calls the almost unison or imperfect unison – a state of friction that opens up a space where small differences become clearer and micro-tones and sounds are made audible.

She embraces both chance and control as coexisting parameters. In one series of pieces the musicians receive instructions via iPods put on shuffle: the musicians receive instructions with the composer's voice directly in their ears, while at the same time a significant amount of control is relinquished as the shape of the piece is randomly created through the iPod's shuffle function.

Nielsen studied at The Danish Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus with Simon Steen-Andersen, Jeppe Just Christensen, Niels Rosing-Schow, Hans Abrahamsen, Bent Sørensen, and Hans Peter Stubbe-Teglbjærg.

Mette Nielsen received Pelle-Prisen, The Axel Borup-Jørgensen Composer's Prize, Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen’s Grant, the Anckerske Grant and a grant from Astrid and Aksel Agerby’s Memorial Foundation. Her music has been played by Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Adapter, Ensemble TM+, SCENATET, FIGURA Ensemble, Athelas Sinfonietta, Bulgarian female choir Usmifka among others.

Press photos:
Download high resolution photo by Soffi Chanchira Larsen
Download high resolution photo by Soffi Chanchira Larsen

Articles and reviews:
Interview Seismograf 05.06.2018

Available Works

All categories Solo 2-6 Instruments 7+ Instruments Choir Orchestra Educational Music Open Instrumentation

  1. Patchwork Musik - SANDFLUGT

    2021 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

    Open instr.

  2. Forestilling om et fastfrosset øjeblik

    2020 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    15 minutes

    String quartet

  3. Bevægelser

    2022 • Mette Nielsen

    Orchestra

    25 minutes

    3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timp.2perc/hp/str

  4. Tidlig solopgang

    2022 • Mette Nielsen

    Choir

    8 minutes

    Mixed choir

  5. Together

    2021 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    12 minutes

    Basset clarinet in A, violin, viola, cello

  6. Alone

    2021 • Mette Nielsen

    Solo

    10 minutes

    Basset clarinet in A

  7. Patchwork Musik – Tjaldur

    2021 • Mette Nielsen

    Open Instrumentation

    (open instr.) fl, ob, cl, bsn, sax, brass, acc, pno/perc, vln, vla, vlc, db

  8. Slow Race for Flute and Clarinet in Eb

    2014 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    Flute and clarinet in Eb

  9. Apart

    2021 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    18 minutes

    String quartet

  10. Snigende, Søgende, Syngende

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

    Cello solo, duo, or trio

  11. Motet (for girls' choir)

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    Choir

    1:30 minutes

    Girls' choir (SSAA)

  12. Motet (for mixed choir)

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    Choir

    1:30 minutes

    Mixed choir (SATB)

  13. String Quartet in One Movement

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    5 minutes

    String quartet

  14. Song I used to sing to the machines

    2013 • Mette Nielsen

    7+ Instruments

    12 minutes

    1.1.1.1/1.1.1.0/perc/hrp/pno/1.1.1.1.1

  15. Slow Race for Two Flutes

    2013 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    Two flutes

  16. Ritual for et rum

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    8 minutes

    Clarinet in A, alto saxophone, amplified guitar

  17. Oh let me

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    Soprano, harpsichord, baroque violin, baroque cello

  18. If I Had a Hammer

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    Open Instrumentation

    10 minutes

    Open composition for an indefinite number of voices, hammer, chisel and brick

  19. Under vandspejlet

    2017 • Mette Nielsen

    Solo

    5 minutes

    Double bass solo

  20. Kontur

    2010 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    6:30 minutes

    Fl, cl, pno, vln, vlc

  21. Drømte mig en drøm

    2005 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    Voice and accordion

  22. Der står en lind

    2005 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    Voice and piano

  23. Contour

    2009 • Mette Nielsen

    Solo

    5:44 minutes

    Organ solo

  24. Circle #3

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    7+ Instruments

    10 minutes

    Fl, ob, cl, bsn, hrn, trp, trb (each with iPods)

  25. Patchwork Musik – Isfjeldet

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

  26. Den samme flod

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    Violin, cello, and piano

  27. Listende, Larmende, Legende

    2018 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

    Accordeon solo, duo, or trio

  28. Optakt til march

    2017 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

    4 minutes

    Percussion solo

  29. Dans, drøm

    2017 • Mette Nielsen

    Educational Music

    4 minutes

    Guitar solo

  30. Square #2

    2012 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    7 percussionists with iPods

  31. Odense Havn 1991/2016

    2016 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    20 minutes

    Tape and ensemble (fl, b.cl, pno, vla, vlc, db)

  32. Kvartet til minde om en sang

    2016 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    String quartet

  33. Jeg vil ikke falde

    2014 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Mezzo, cl, perc, db

  34. Fragmented Obstructions

    2013 • Mette Nielsen

    2-6 Instruments

    12 minutes

    bass clarinet, cello & percussion




Advanced works search

News

  1. Skræl og kød (Peel and Flesh) - New choral work by Mette Nielsen

    general

    Skræl og kød (Peel and Flesh) - New choral work by Mette Nielsen

  2. SPOT FLUX 2025

    general

    SPOT FLUX 2025

  3. Danish music in Bergen

    general

    Danish music in Bergen

  1. Contemporary Choral Works

    general

    Contemporary Choral Works

  2. Athelas and Dirigentløftet present new Nordic music

    general

    Athelas and Dirigentløftet present new Nordic music

  3. Mette Nielsen World Premiere: Retninger

    general

    Mette Nielsen World Premiere: Retninger

  4. FORTSAT GO' WEEKEND - torsdagsbar og koncert

    general

    FORTSAT GO' WEEKEND - torsdagsbar og koncert

  5. Contemporary Orchestral Highlights

    general

    Contemporary Orchestral Highlights

  6. Klang Festival 2024

    general

    Klang Festival 2024

  7. SPOR Festival

    general

    SPOR Festival

  8. SPOT FLUX coming up

    general

    SPOT FLUX coming up

  9. Morten Ladehoff World Premiere

    general

    Morten Ladehoff World Premiere

  10. Mette Nielsen: Rules for Playing, World Premiere

    general

    Mette Nielsen: Rules for Playing, World Premiere

  11. SPOT FLUX: New orchestral music at SPOT 2024

    general

    SPOT FLUX: New orchestral music at SPOT 2024

  12. New publications: Pieces for Recorder & Pieces for Viola

    releases

    New publications: Pieces for Recorder & Pieces for Viola

  13. Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

    nominations / awards

    Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

  14. Mette Nielsen unfolds the sound of the orchestra in Movements

    general

    Mette Nielsen unfolds the sound of the orchestra in Movements

  15. Mette Nielsen World Premiere

    general

    Mette Nielsen World Premiere

  16. Edition·S at KLANG Festival

    general

    Edition·S at KLANG Festival

  17. Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation

    general

    Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation

  18. Mette Nielsen Essay

    general

    Mette Nielsen Essay

  19. Upcoming performances 2022

    general

    Upcoming performances 2022

  20. Selected summer performances

    general

    Selected summer performances

  21. Clarinet Extravaganza

    general

    Clarinet Extravaganza

  22. Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

    nominations / awards

    Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

  23. Digital Concert Series

    general

    Digital Concert Series

  24. Concert · Double Bass Extravaganza

    general

    Concert · Double Bass Extravaganza

  25. World Premieres · Rønsholdt, Nielsen, Black & Ernst at SPOR

    general

    World Premieres · Rønsholdt, Nielsen, Black & Ernst at SPOR

  26. Premiere · Mette Nielsen String Quartets to be performed at Bornholm's Music Festival

    general

    Premiere · Mette Nielsen String Quartets to be performed at Bornholm's Music Festival

  27. RELEASE · Educate·S · Pieces for Guitar

    general

    RELEASE · Educate·S · Pieces for Guitar

  28. Celebrating female composers

    general

    Celebrating female composers

  29. Mette Nielsen and Matias Vestergård Hansen in KLASSISK music magazine

    general

    Mette Nielsen and Matias Vestergård Hansen in KLASSISK music magazine

  30. Nordic Music Days 2019

    general

    Nordic Music Days 2019

  31. Mette Nielsen receives Pelle-Prisen 2019

    general

    Mette Nielsen receives Pelle-Prisen 2019

  32. Children co-composing and a circling Ondes Martenot - Mette Nielsen at Klang Festival

    general

    Children co-composing and a circling Ondes Martenot - Mette Nielsen at Klang Festival

  33. KLANG 2019

    general

    KLANG 2019

  34. Save 25% on all solo pieces

    general

    Save 25% on all solo pieces

  35. Celebrating female composers

    general

    Celebrating female composers

  36. Premiere of Mette Nielsen and Martin Stauning trios

    general

    Premiere of Mette Nielsen and Martin Stauning trios

  37. Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

    general

    Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

  38. Mette Nielsen interview in Seismograf

    general

    Mette Nielsen interview in Seismograf

  39. Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

    general

    Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

  40. Martin Stauning piece kicks off new 4’33 Phil season

    general

    Martin Stauning piece kicks off new 4’33 Phil season

  41. We’re off to Nordic Music Days (in London, unusually)

    general

    We’re off to Nordic Music Days (in London, unusually)

  42. Composer Mette Nielsen joins Edition·S

    general

    Composer Mette Nielsen joins Edition·S

  43. Two young composers making their debuts

    general

    Two young composers making their debuts

  44. Edition·S composers receive Carl Nielsen Grant

    general

    Edition·S composers receive Carl Nielsen Grant

Show More News

Performances

  1. September 2025
  2. 25

    September

    Mette Nielsen: Skræl og kød

    time19:00

    location Billund Kirke, Denmark

    performed by Ars Nova Copenhagen

  3. 26

    September

    Mette Nielsen: Skræl og kød

    time19:00

    location Hasseris Kirke, Aalborg, Denmark

    performed by Ars Nova Copenhagen

  4. 27

    September

    Mette Nielsen: Skræl og kød

    time15:00

    location Helsingør Domkirke, Denmark

    performed by Ars Nova Copenhagen

  5. 28

    September

    Mette Nielsen: Skræl og kød

    time16:00

    location Trinitatis Kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark

    performed by Ars Nova Copenhagen

  1. October 2025
  2. 18

    October

    Mette Nielsen: Tidlig solopgang

    time17:00

    location Alzenau, Kuratiekirche St. Katharina, Germany

    performed by SWR Vokalensemble