- Fredrik Pacius
Fredrik Pacius (or "Friedrich Pacius") (Audio|Sv-Fredrik_Pacius.ogg|pronunciation;
March 19 ,1809 Hamburg –January 8 ,1891 Helsinki ) was a Germancomposer and conductor who lived most of his life inFinland . He has been called the "Father of Finnish music".Pacius was appointed as a music teacher at the
University of Helsinki in 1834. In Helsinki he founded a musical society, a student choir and an orchestra. In 1848 Pacius wrote the music to the poem "Maamme " byJohan Ludvig Runeberg , which was to become Finland'snational anthem . Pacius’s music was also used for theEstonia n national anthem "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm " andLivonian s national anthem "Min izāmō, min sindimō ".In 1852 he composed "Kung Karls jakt" (The Hunt of King Charles) which was the first Finnish
opera , with alibretto in the style ofRomantic nationalism , like the national anthem designed to ensure Finland'sGrand Duke (i.e. Russia's Emperor) on the total loyalty of his subjects in Finland. The libretto was written by the author and historianZacharias Topelius in close collaboration with the composer.His compositions also include a
violin concerto , asymphony , astring quartet and several other operas.External links
* [http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/fimic.nsf/mainframe?readform&CD84D3E8EA030D05C22567F400403499 Finnish Music Information Center page on Pacius' Vocal Works]
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