Johan Helmich Roman

Music fro a Royal Wedding

Music for a Royal Wedding was written for the wedding between Crown Prince Adolf Fredrik and Lovisa Ulrika, and was performed during the festivities in August 1744. The work, originally consisting of 24 movements, contains music for ceremonies, processions, concerts and tafelmusik. Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758) is often referred to as "The Father of Swedish Music" and through his work as chief master in the Royal Swedish Orchestra and as a teacher, the foundation for the Swedish musical life was established. He was born into the family of the Royal Swedish Orchestra musician Johan Roman and performed already as a seven-year-old in front of the Royal Court, playing the violin. He spent 1716-21 in England to study and during this time came into contact with the music of Händel. He returned to Sweden in 1721 and was appointed deputy master before becoming the chief master six years later. Roman developed the Royal Swedish Orchestra to a model orchestra and laid the foundation of a broader and more modern musical culture. The sound files are generated from the music notation software.