Edvin Kallstenius

Edvin Kallstenius (29 August 1881 – 22 November 1967) was a Swedish composer and librarian.Svenskt Musik/Swedish Music Information Centre http://www.mic.se/avd/mic/prod/micv5eng.nsf/docsbycodename/start
He arranged the traditional folk tune used as the ''de facto'' national anthem of Sweden, '' Du gamla, Du fria''.Grove, George and Stanley Sadie (1980). ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.'' Macmillan Publishers,

Life and career

Born in Filipstad, Kallstenius studied natural sciences at Lund University under Stephan Krehl from 1904–1907. As music librarian at Sveriges Radio from 1928–1946, he made a significant contribution in the field of music administration in Sweden.Percy G. Leading Swedish Composers of the 20th Century. In: ''Swedish music – past and present'', special edition of Musikrevy. STIM & Swedish Institute for Cultural Relations Abroad, Stockholm, 1966.

He also served on the Board of the Society of Swedish Composers from 1933–1961 (as treasurer 1933–1943), and was on the board of the Swedish Performing Rights Society from 1932–1957.

In addition to arranging ''Du gamla, Du fria'', his work includes five symphonies and eight string quartets. He also published an annotated catalogue of Swedish orchestral works.Kallstenius, Edvin (1948). ''Swedish Orchestral Works: Annotated Catalog.'' Stockholm: Nordiska Musikforlaget

Kallstenius achieved an individual style and avoided using only tonal language by devising intense melodies reinforced with imaginative harmony. He declared that his "musical religion is called harmonics – everything else is secondary" and from this basis he worked out his "meticulously declamed themes". Although in later works he employed his own personal interpretation of serial style, he also composed charming versions of older Swedish music. He died in Stocksund, Stockholm.

Selected compositions

** Op. 1 – String quartet no. 1 (1904)
** Op. 2 – String quartet no. 2 (1905)
** Op. 3 – 2 Sånger: ”Lykken mellem to Mennesker” and ”Maanens Klage” (1907)
** Op. 4 – ''Scherzo fugato'' for orchestra (1923)
** Op. 4a – ''Fuga pastorale'' for organ (1907)
** Op. 5 – Allegro sinfonico (''Sista striden''), tragic overture (1908)
** Op. 6 – Sonata for cello and piano (1907)
** Op. 7 – Sonata for violin and piano (1907)
** Op. 8 – String quartet no. 3 (1914)
** Op. 9 – Four songs: ”Minnas”, ”Höbärgningen”, ”Barnaftonbön” and ”Välkommen åter, snälla sol”) (ca. 1916)
** Op. 10 – ''En serenad i sommarnatten'', symphonic poem (1918)
** Op. 11 – ''När vi dö'', a Swedish requiem for mixed choir and orchestra (1919)
** Op. 12 – Piano concerto, ''Sinfonia concertata'' (1922)
** Op. 13 – Sinfonietta no. 1 for orkester (1923)
** Op. 14 – String quartet no. 4, ''Divertimento alla Serenata'' (1925)
** Op. 15 – 3 songs: ”Karin Månsdotters vaggvisa for Erik XIV”, ”Reisesegen” and ”Gunhild” (ca 1920)
** Op. 16 – Symphony no. 1 in E flat major (1926)
** Op. 17 – Clarinet quintet (1929–30)
** Op. 18 – ''Dalarapsodi'' for orchestra (1931)
** Op. 19 – ''Lustspelsuvertyr'' for orchestra (1934)
** Op. 20 – Symphony no. 2 in F minor (1935)
** Op. 21 – 3 Dansstudier for orchestra (1935)
** Op. 22 – ''Dalslandsrapsodi'' for orchestra (1936)
** Op. 23b – Suite for 9 instruments (1949)
** Op. 24 – ''Romantico'', overture for orchestra (1938)
** Op. 25 – Passacaglia and variations on a Rococo theme (”Gubben Noak”) (1939)
** Op. 26 – ''Högtid och fest'' for orchestra (1940)
** Op. 27 – ''Musica gioconda'', serenade for string orchestra (1942)
** Op. 28 – ''Liten Falu-musik'' (1942)
** Op. 29a – Divertimento for flute, clarinet, horn and bassoon (1943)
** Op. 29b – ''Divertimento da camera'' (1943)
** Op. 30 – ''Cavatina'' for viola and orchestra (1943)
** Op. 31 – ''Passacaglia enarmonica'' (1943)
** Op. 32 – ''Sångoffer'', solo cantata for baritone and orchestra (1944)
** Op. 33 – String quartet no. 5 (1945)
** Op. 34 – Sinfonietta no. 2 (1946)
** Op. 35 – Variations on a theme of Kraus (1947)
** Op. 36 – Symphony no. 3 (1948)
** Op. 37 – ''forändringar av en barnvisa'' for piano (1949)
** Op. 38 – ''Stjärntändningen'' for chamber choir and orchestra (1944)
** Op. 39 – ''Trio divertente'' for flute, violin and viola (1950)
** Op. 40 – Cello concerto (1951)
** Op. 41 – String quartet no. 6 (1953)
** Op. 42 – ''Musica sinfonica'' (1953)
** Op. 43 – Symphony no. 4 (Sinfonia a fresco) (1953–54)
** Op. 44 – ''Nytt vin i gamla läglar'' (1954)
** Op. 45 – ''Hymen, o, Hymenaios'', ancient Greek wedding cantata for 3 soloists, mixed choir and orchestra (1955)
** Op. 46 – ''Sinfonietta dodicitonia'' (1956)
** Op. 47a – ''Piccolo trio seriale'' for flute, English horn and clarinet (1956)
** Op. 47b – ''Piccolo trio seriale'' for violin, viola and clarinet (1957)
** Op. 48 – ''Coreographic suite'' for orchestra (1957)
** Op. 49 – String quartet no. 7 (1957)
** Op. 50 – ''Sinfonietta semi-seriale'' (1958)
** Op. 51 – ''Trio svagente'' for clarinet, horn and cello (1959)
** Op. 52 – Symphony no. 5, ''Sinfonia ordinaria ma su temi 12-tonici'' (1960)
** Op. 53 – Sonata for cello (1961)
** Op. 54 – String quartet no. 8 (1962)
** Op. 55 – ''Lyrisk svit'' (Lyric suite) for flute, saxophone or clarinet and cello (1960)
** Op. 56 – 3 songs for male choir: ”Människors möte”, ”fortvivlan” and ”forsvunnen rymd” (1963)
** Op. 57 – ''Sonata biforma'' for flute (1962)
** Op. 58 – ''Äktenskap'', suite of three duets for soprano, tenor, flute, clarinet and string trio: ”Program”, ”Psalm for älskande” and ”Äktenskap” (ca. 1964)
** Op. 59 – ''Två stycken i följd'' for cello and piano (1963)
** Op. 60 – ''Knoppningsbikt i kvinnodikt'', fyra körsånger i följd (1964)
** Op. 61 – String trio (1965)
** Op. 62 – Sonata for violin (1965, rev. 1967)
** Op. 63 – ''Prologo seriale'' for orchestra (1966)

References

External links

Edvin Kallstenius
via Classical Composers database


via Classical Music on the Web
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kallstenius, Edvin
1881 births
1967 deaths
20th-century classical composers
Lund University alumni
People from Filipstad
Swedish classical composers
Swedish male classical composers
Swedish librarians
20th-century Swedish male musicians
20th-century Swedish musicians
Music librarians