These two nocturnes were directly inspired by an experience from nature: the bright nights at the Danish Sejrø Gulf, where the composer spent three weeks in the Summer of 1960. Stylistically the work is inspired by the musical currents that emanated from Darmstadt in Germany, which was by then the power centre of new music represented by composers like Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nono and Luciano Berio. The nocturnes were first performed by Bengt Johnsson in 1962, and since then it has been of the works of Tage Nielsen with most performances.