Johan Helmich Roman

Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758) is regarded as "the father of Swedish music." Born in Stockholm to a Royal Court Musician, Roman grew up learning various instruments to cover parts as needed in the court orchestra, and developed such talent that he was allowed to study in England, where he came into contact with Handel. Roman began to compose in the 1720s, and was named leader of the court orchestra in 1727; shortly afterward Roman composed his masterwork Drottningholmsmusik (1730). Roman was prolific, though his compositional career was cut short by deafness; his last years were devoted to translating theoretical texts into Swedish.