Crusell, Bernhard Henrik (1775-1838)

Finnish composer and clarinettist. He was a member of the military band at Svaeborg Castle, Finland, before moving to Stockholm in 1791, where he studied with the Abbé Vogler. In 1798 he went to Berlin, Germany, and in 1803 studied with Henri-Montan Berton and François Gossec in Paris, France. A leading clarinet virtuoso of his day, he also worked at the Stockholm Opera, translating and conducting for the first time in Sweden operas by Beethoven, Rossini, Meyerbeer, and Auber.

Works Opera Den lilla slavinnan/The Little Slave Girl (1824).

Orchestral three clarinet concertos (1811, 1818, 1828), Concertante for horn, bassoon, clarinet, and orchestra (1816), Concertino for bassoon and orchestra.

Chamber three quartets for clarinet and strings (1811, 1817, 1823), three clarinet duos (1821), Divertimento for oboe and strings (1823).

Vocal 37 songs for four-part chorus.