Polska from Four Watercolours

Few composers have had such an impact on Swedish music life as Tor Aulin (1866–1914). He studied violin and music theory in Stockholm 1877–83, and in Berlin 1884–86. In 1887 he founded the Aulin Quartet, which for more than 20 years played animportant role in broadening Swedish interest in chamber music. The quartet was often on tour with the composer Wilhelm Stenhammar at the piano.

1889–1902 Aulin was the leader of the orchestra at the Royal Opera in Stockholm.

At Aulinsinstigation the Concert Association in Stockholm (later The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) was founded in 1902, and he was its conductor until 1909. From then on he was the conductor of the Gothenburg ConcertAssociation (nowadays The GothenburgSymphony Orchestra).

Besides being a first class violinist, Tor Aulin was also an accomplished pianist, and Edvard Grieg was deeply impressed by Aulin’s rendering of his piano concerto.

Aulins list of works is dominated by his musicfor violin. He wrote three violin concertos, the third of which still has a place in the repertoire.

Four Aquarelles for violin and piano from 1899 is his most beloved composition. In 1996 Jerker Johansson arranged this work for soloinstruments, one for each of the four movements, and concert band. The solo instruments being clarinet, trumpet, flute and alto saxophone.