Edvin Kallstenius


Edvin Kallstenius was a Swedish composer and librarian.
He arranged the traditional folk tune used as the de facto national anthem of Sweden, Du gamla, Du fria.

Life and career

Born in Filipstad, Kallstenius studied natural sciences at Lund University, then music at the Leipzig Conservatory 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.
He also served on the Board of the Society of Swedish Composers from 1933–1961, 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 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