Alice Charlotta Tegnér (Swedish:[aˈliːstɛŋˈneːr];[1]née Sandström; 12 March 1864 – 26 May 1943) was a Swedish music teacher, poet and composer. She is the foremost composer of Swedish children's songs during the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.[2]
Background
Born Alice Charlotta Sandström in Karlshamn, Sweden, she was the daughter of Eduard Sandström (1829–1879), a ship captain. She was very musical and began taking piano lessons early. She attended seminars in Stockholm (Högre lärarinneseminariet) and trained as a teacher. After graduation, she served as governess. Alice Tegnér was a teacher at Djursholms samskola and cantor in Djursholms chapel where Natanael Beskow was a preacher.[3]
In 1885, she married Jakob Tegnér (1851–1926), a lawyer, and later secretary of the Swedish Publishers' Association and editor of Svenska Bokhandelstidningen.[4][5]
Career
Alice Tegnér wrote many well-known children's songs in Swedish, most notably Mors lilla Olle. It was published during 1895 in volume 3 of Sjung med oss, mamma![6]
Tegnér also in such classical genres as chamber and sacred music together with choral music, cantatas, cello and violinsonatas. Her songs and compositions were inspired by both folk and art music. Her well-known hymnbook Nu ska vi sjunga, with illustrations by Elsa Beskow, was published in 1943.[7]
