Fredrik Pacius
Fredrik Pacius (or Friedrich Pacius) (1809-1891) was a Hamburg-born German composer and conductor who lived most of his life in Finland. He has been called the "Father of Finnish music".
He 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 by Johan Ludvig Runeberg, which was to become Finland's national anthem. Paciuss music was also used for the Estonian national anthem Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm.
In 1852 he composed Kaarle-kuninkaan metsästys (The Hunt of King Charles) which was the first Finnish opera, with a libretto in the style of Romantic nationalism, like the national anthem designed to ensure Finland's Grand Duke (i.e. Russia's Emperor) on the total loyalty of his subjects in Finland. The libretto was written by the author and historian Zacharias Topelius in close collaboration with the composer.
Referenced By
Finnish music | List of people known as the father or mother of something | Maamme | Mu Isamaa, Mu Onn Ja Room | Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm | Music of Finland | National anthem of Finland | Timeline of trends in music to 1899
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