Wilhelm Stenhammar
Conductor, composer and pianist Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871–1927) was one of Sweden's foremost composers around the turn of the last century, and one of the nation's finest pianists in his day.
About the archive
The Wilhelm Stenhammar archive (H 218) consists largely of correspondence, and mirrors Stenhammar's extensive network of contacts among the composers of his time, including Hugo Alfvén and Jean Sibelius, as well as among several of the great artists found among his contemporaries, such as Karin and Carl Larsson, and authors including Verner von Heidenstam and Ellen Key. The archive has several manuscripts, sheet music manuscripts and a large number of portrait photos. Further, there are materials from Wilhelm Stenhammar's wife, artist Helga Marcia Stenhammar (1874–1957) née Westerberg. Both Wilhelm and Helga Stenhammar made several journeys which prompted a wealth of correspondence, both between the spouses and with other relatives. Helga's corresponcence also includes letters from several of the prominent artists of her time, Carl Larsson, Albert Engström, Hanna Pauli and Ester Almqvist among them. All in all, the archive amounts to 38 volumes, dating from the 1880s to the 1990s.
Biography
Composer Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871–1927) was born in Stockholm, the son of architect and composer Per Ulrik Stenhammar (1829–1875) and Louise Rudenschiöld (1828–1902). The family's cultural and musical traditions ran deep, and Wilhelm became an apt pianist early on. He began composing songs and choir movements, and started his professional piano studies in 1887, as a student of Richard Andersson. In the spring of 1892 he made his debut as a solo pianist. Wilhelm Stenhammar wsa already a renowned musician when he came to Gothenburg in 1907, to serve for over a decade as the artistic director of the Göteborgs orkesterförening (now the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra). In the 1910s, he was highly successful as a conductor and composer. In 1916, Stenhammar was made an honorary doctor of the Gothenburg College.
In 1896, Wilhelm Stenhammar married artist Helga Westerberg. Helga had previously studied at the Valand, then the Gothenburg Drawing School, where Carl Larsson had been her teacher. Following this, she spent some time in Paris, undertaking further art studies. In 1906–1907 she continued her studies while her family resided in Florence. Helga's artistry was eventually a bit compromised by family life, which would claim the bulk of her time and effort. She favoured watercolours and drawing, and her works are often starkly contoured studies from life, hallmarked by a great sense of humour. Among her other works, Helga created a series of swiftly drawn portraits of her husband Wilhelm Stenhammar.
Locate the archive
The archive has a complete inventory, as well as a list of the correspondence which is part of the collection. Both can be found in Alvin and in the offices of the Manuscripts Section.
Contact
Gothenburg University Library Manuscripts Section
Contact
Visit us
The Humanities Library
Renströmsgatan 4
405 30 GOTHENBURG
Read more
Wilhelm Stenhammar in the Svenskt biografiskt lexikon
Göteborgs Symfoniker on Wilhelm Stenhammar
Levande musikarv on Wilhelm Stenhammar
Website of the Stenhammar association
Haglund, Magnus / Wilhelm Stenhammar