Hilda Sehested facts for kids

Hilda Sehested (born April 27, 1858 – died April 15, 1936) was a talented Danish composer. She wrote many different kinds of music, including songs, pieces for instruments, and even an opera.

Her Life Story

Hilda Sehested was born in Funen, Denmark. Her father, Niels Frederik Bernhard Sehested, was an archeologist. Her mother was Charlotte Christine Linde.

Hilda loved music and studied with great teachers. She learned music in Copenhagen with C. F. E. Horneman. Later, she went to Paris to study with Louise Aglaé Massart. She also learned to play the organ with Ludvig Birkedal-Barfod. For composing music, she studied with Orla Rosenhoff. Hilda started writing her own music when she was 30 years old.

A sad time came for Hilda when her mother passed away in 1894. After this, Hilda moved to Copenhagen to live with her sister, Thyra. She became engaged to Henry Petersen, who was an archeologist and museum director. Sadly, he died before they could get married.

This event made Hilda very sad. For a while, she worked as a nurse. Then, she became a church organist. Eventually, she returned to her passion for composing music. Hilda Sehested passed away in Copenhagen.

Her Musical Works

Hilda Sehested created many beautiful pieces of music. She wrote songs, music for different instruments, and even for an orchestra. She also composed one opera.

Here are some of her well-known works:

• Fantasy Pieces, from 1891
• Sonata for Pianoforte, from 1896
• Intermezzi for Piano Trio, a sonata from 1904
• Suite für Cornet in B und Klavier, from 1905
• Songs with Piano, from 1907
• Agnete and the Merman opera, from 1914
• Miniatures for Orchestra, from 1915
• Rhapsody, from 1915
• Quartet in G for strings
• Morceau pathétique for trombone and orchestra, from 1923
• Four Fantasy Pieces for flute and piano, from 1927

Her music has been recorded and released on CDs. One example is:

• Romantic Piano Works by Danish Women Composers (2009). This CD features music by Hilda Sehested along with Nanna Liebmann, Cathrine Penderup, and Benna Moe.