Carl Michael Bellman
![Bellman playing the [[cittern]],<br />in a portrait by [[Per Krafft the Elder|Per Krafft]], 1779](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Carl_Michael_Bellman%2C_portrayed_by_Per_Krafft_1779.jpg)
Bellman is best known for two collections of poems set to music, ''Fredman's epistles'' (''Fredmans epistlar'') and ''Fredman's songs'' (''Fredmans sånger''). Each consists of about 70 songs. The general theme is drinking, but the songs "most ingeniously" combine words and music to express feelings and moods ranging from humorous to elegiac, romantic to satirical.
Bellman's patrons included King Gustav III of Sweden, who called him a master improviser. Bellman's songs continue to be performed and recorded by musicians from Scandinavia and in other languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Russian. Several of his songs including ''Gubben Noak'' and ''Fjäriln vingad'' are known by heart by many Swedes. His legacy further includes a museum in Stockholm and a society that fosters interest in him and his work. Provided by Wikipedia
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Published: 1971
Superior document: Acta Bibliothecae Regiae Stockholmiensis 13