Master of the Swedish royal chapel and a leading composer in Sweden in the first half of the 18th century, Johan Helmich Roman studied in England with Pepusch, compiler of the music of The Beggar’s Opera. His music shows distinct traces of his experience in England, where he also met composers such as Handel and Geminiani. He was a prolific composer in various genres.
Orchestral Music
The best-known composition by Roman is his Drottingholm Music for the royal wedding of the Crown Prince of Sweden and his Prussian bride in 1744. Other surviving music includes sinfonias, concertos, suites and overtures.
Chamber Music
Roman’s chamber music includes flute sonatas and trio sonatas, characteristic of the transitional style current in the middle of the 18th century.