Germany
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Fredrik Pacius
Hamburg, Germany, Germany
Archival Overview
German-born composer and conductor hailed as the 'Father of Finnish Music' who in 1848 set Runeberg's poem 'Maamme' (Vårt land) to music, creating the national anthems of both Finland and Estonia, and wrote the first Finnish opera.
Biographical Record
Friedrich Pacius was born in Hamburg on March 19, 1809. A brilliant violin pupil of Louis Spohr in Kassel, Pacius was invited in 1834 to become music director at the Imperial Alexander University of Helsinki, where he organized Finland's professional orchestral and choral life.
On May 13, 1848, at the Flora Day celebrations in Kumtähden kenttä, his setting of Johan Ludvig Runeberg's poem Vårt land / Maamme was premiered, instantly becoming the Finnish national anthem (and later the Estonian national anthem). In 1852, he premiered Kung Karls jakt (The Hunt of King Charles), the very first opera composed in Finland.
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialHelsinki, Finland