Biography

As a composer, Stenhammar was initially influenced by German and Austrian music, especially that of Richard Wagner and Anton Bruckner. Stenhammar himself described the style of his First Symphony in F major as "idyllic Bruckner". He subsequently sought to liberate himself from this influence, with the goal of writing in a more "Nordic" style, looking to Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius for guidance.

A result of his search for a new style was Stenhammar's own Second Symphony in G minor, composed nearly twelve years after the First Symphony, which shows the influence of Nielsen, Sibelius and Franz Berwald among others.

Stenhammar's string quartets were composed over a 22-year period from 1894 to 1916. Seven such works were completed; however, one of them (in F minor, 1897) was withdrawn by the composer immediately after its first performance, although it has since been revived and recorded.

He is considered to be one of Sweden's most important composers at the turn of the 20th century, and one of the finest Swedish pianists of his time, with a reputation as a fine interpreter of the piano music of Beethoven.

He demonstrated a talent for music at an early age, both as pianist and composer, writing piano sonatas and songs during his teenage years.