Gustav Stolpe

Who was Gustav Stolpe?

Gustav Stolpe was a Swedish-American composer, conductor, and performer.

Gustav Stolpe was born in Torsåker Parish, Gästrikland, Sweden in 1833. He held the degree of Musikdirektör from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Gustav Stolpe is most frequently remembered as the composer of When Through the Torn Sail which was written with lyricist, Reginald Heber.

In 1882 Dr. Stolpe was named to the faculty of Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained on the faculty for 11 years. In a typical week, he would teach seven organ lessons, six violin lessons, and ten vocal lessons. His work papers are included in the Manuscript Collections in the Thomas Tredway Library at Augustana College. Within his lifetime, Stolpe composed 38 operettas, 25 orchestral works, 25 pieces for brass band, and 25 piano solos.

Dr. Stolpe died in 1902 in Kenilworth, New Jersey.