Olof Åhlström
Encyclopedia
Olof Åhlström was a Swedish civil servant, composer and music publisher.
Åhlström was born in a peasant family in Vårdinge parish in Södermanland
. He received early musical lessons from the parish organist but left his home at the age of sixteen to enroll in the Royal Academy of Music
in Stockholm. He was appointed organist in the Stockholm parish of Maria Magdalena in 1777 and moved to Jakob parish in 1792. In addition to his professional life as a musician, he took a clerk's position in Krigskollegium (the War Office), where in 1805 he reached the position of krigsråd ("War Councillor"). He retired from his position in Krigskollegium in 1824, but stayed as organist in Jakob until his death eleven years later.
His own compositions include a large number of songs, among them many poems by Anna Maria Lenngren
, who was his sister-in-law, that he had set to music. These were published in several parts of Skalde-stycken satte i musik (1794–1823). He also composed a number of chorale
s, a cantata
, fourteen sonata
s, and an opera, Frigga (1787).
In 1788, Åhlström established Musikaliska Tryckeriet, the first larger-scale musical printing press in Sweden, and received a 20-year exclusive royal privilege for the engraving and printing of sheet music; anyone encroaching on his monopoly was to be fined 100 riksdaler. He introduced a new method of printing the sheets with types made from pewter with a small portion of lead. The method was cheaper than the copperplates previously used for the printing of music in Sweden, but was criticized for producing dark and dirty prints. The production of his press included compositions by Johan Wikmanson
; Traditioner af swenska folk-dansar, folk dances collected and written down by Åhlström together with the folklore scholar Arvid August Afzelius
; and fifteen parts of Musikaliskt tidsfördrif, a collection of pieces popular at the time, mostly for piano or song accompanied by piano. Åhlström also published the first edition of Carl Michael Bellman's song cycle Fredman's Epistles
(1790) in collaboration with Bellman himself and the poet Johan Henrik Kellgren, who wrote an introduction and edited the song texts. Åhlström made arrangements of the songs for piano. It was followed in 1791 by Fredman's Songs
, a collection of songs by Bellman not included among the Epistles. The relative influence of Kellgren and Åhlström over the final edition of both collections of songs, compared to that of the author, is a complex and partly unresolvable issue.
Åhlström was born in a peasant family in Vårdinge parish in Södermanland
Södermanland
', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...
. He received early musical lessons from the parish organist but left his home at the age of sixteen to enroll in the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
in Stockholm. He was appointed organist in the Stockholm parish of Maria Magdalena in 1777 and moved to Jakob parish in 1792. In addition to his professional life as a musician, he took a clerk's position in Krigskollegium (the War Office), where in 1805 he reached the position of krigsråd ("War Councillor"). He retired from his position in Krigskollegium in 1824, but stayed as organist in Jakob until his death eleven years later.
His own compositions include a large number of songs, among them many poems by Anna Maria Lenngren
Anna Maria Lenngren
Anna Maria Lenngren was a Swedish writer, poet, feminist, translator and salonist. She is one of the best-known Swedish woman poets.-Background:...
, who was his sister-in-law, that he had set to music. These were published in several parts of Skalde-stycken satte i musik (1794–1823). He also composed a number of chorale
Chorale
A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....
s, a cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
, fourteen sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
s, and an opera, Frigga (1787).
In 1788, Åhlström established Musikaliska Tryckeriet, the first larger-scale musical printing press in Sweden, and received a 20-year exclusive royal privilege for the engraving and printing of sheet music; anyone encroaching on his monopoly was to be fined 100 riksdaler. He introduced a new method of printing the sheets with types made from pewter with a small portion of lead. The method was cheaper than the copperplates previously used for the printing of music in Sweden, but was criticized for producing dark and dirty prints. The production of his press included compositions by Johan Wikmanson
Johan Wikmanson
Johan Wikmanson was a Swedish organist and composer.-Biography:Wikmanson was born in Stockholm and, except for 18 months spent in Copenhagen studying mathematics and instrument making, lived his entire life in the Swedish capital. He was a superb organist and for many years held the post of...
; Traditioner af swenska folk-dansar, folk dances collected and written down by Åhlström together with the folklore scholar Arvid August Afzelius
Arvid August Afzelius
Arvid August Afzelius was a Swedish pastor, poet, historian and mythologist.From 1828 till his death he was parish priest of Enköping...
; and fifteen parts of Musikaliskt tidsfördrif, a collection of pieces popular at the time, mostly for piano or song accompanied by piano. Åhlström also published the first edition of Carl Michael Bellman's song cycle Fredman's Epistles
Epistles of Fredman
Epistles of Fredman is a collection of poems and songs by 18th century author Carl Michael Bellman. It contains 82 works created over a period of twenty years. Many of the songs have remained culturally significant in Scandinavia, especially so in Sweden...
(1790) in collaboration with Bellman himself and the poet Johan Henrik Kellgren, who wrote an introduction and edited the song texts. Åhlström made arrangements of the songs for piano. It was followed in 1791 by Fredman's Songs
Songs of Fredman
Songs of Fredman is a collection of 65 poems and songs published in 1791 by the Swedish poet Carl Michael Bellman.As a follow-up of Epistles of Fredman from the previous year, the book contains songs from a longer period...
, a collection of songs by Bellman not included among the Epistles. The relative influence of Kellgren and Åhlström over the final edition of both collections of songs, compared to that of the author, is a complex and partly unresolvable issue.