Born on 22nd January 1898 in Helsingborg, died 17th December 1966. He studied mostly in Copenhagen (with Anders Rachlew, piano, and Peder Gram, composition) and in Paris. He graduated as an organist from the Stockholm Conservatory, 1926 and was organist of Gustaf Adolf Church, Helsingborg, from 1929.
Gustaf Paulson was an outstandingly prolific composer and an unusually competent craftsman. He was an earnest seeker, but also an unusually shy person who often concealed his hypersensitivity by giving his work self-depreciating titles which put one in mind of Erik Satie: Strängt personligt (“Strictly Personal“), Das ungestimmte Klavier, Skrivbordsmusik, (“Desk top music“), Sabotage I - all for piano - the suite Arterioschlerosis for violin and piano, or Dubbel rörbladsglädje (“Fun for Two Reeds“) for cor anglais and oboe. But these titles and the long succession of more neutral titles, such as Symphonies 1 13 (1928-1966) or solo concertos for practically all the instruments of the orchestra, saxophone included, suites, rhapsodies, overtures, six string quartets, the frequently performed Christmas Oratorio, masses, organ and piano music, conceal a high degree of skill, a bizarre sense of humour and, sometimes, a drastic medley of styles. His music is rooted in that of Carl Nielsen and Paul Hindemith, but sometimes it also acquires touches of the Baroque and Renaissance. In his late works he uses an expressive, personal twelve-tone technique. Paulson’s music has not become very well known outside a limited circle of music lovers, which is a pity, because it has much to offer. SJ