Lost to the public for a time, the Prins Gustafs monument now stands before us. It commemorates a prince of song. This monument honors Prince Gustaf. He was not just any prince. He was a gifted musician. He died young but left a lasting impact.
The Prins Gustafs monument came to be in 1854. The Royal Swedish Academy of Music initiated it. Gustaf had died just two years prior. He was only 25. Yet, in his short life, he had composed “Studentsången”. It is a beloved student song still sung today. He also composed many other melodies.
Look closer at the Prins Gustafs monument. Notice the bronze bust. It sits atop a stone pedestal. Carl Eneas Sjöstrand created the bust. He was a renowned sculptor. Above the bust is a canopy. It features four columns in the neo-Gothic style. Axel Nyström designed this canopy. Johan Fredrik Åbom also likely contributed sketches. The entire monument is enclosed by a railing. The canopy and railing are cast iron. This showcases the 1850s ironwork technology. It blends with the Gothic revival style.
Let your eyes focus on the base of the Prins Gustafs monument. You can see an iron plaque. The inscription reads. “The Prince of Song, the Composer, the Patron of the Arts, by The Royal Swedish Academy of Music and Friends of Music”. These words capture Gustaf’s essence. He was a patron. He was a composer. He was a friend to many.
Imagine the time when this statue was unveiled. It would have been a grand ceremony. People gathered to honor Prince Gustaf. They remembered his music and contributions. The monument became a focal point in Hagaparken.
Interestingly, a new fence in 2010 changed things. It was installed when Haga Palace became the home of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. The Prins Gustafs monument ended up inside the restricted area. It was no longer accessible to the public. But now, the monument is open to everyone again.
Prince Gustaf was quite the talent. People called him the “Prince of Song”. He was perhaps the most musically gifted member of the Bernadotte dynasty. He studied music. Adolf Fredrik Lindblad was his teacher. He became an excellent pianist and singer. Gustaf and his brother Oscar also studied with opera singer Isak Albert Berg.
Gustaf composed under the pseudonym “G*****”. Over 50 of his compositions survive. They include marches and romances. Two pieces are still often performed today. “Studentsången” and “Vårsång”. Herman Sätherberg wrote the lyrics for both songs.
Another piece, “Kälkbackssång”, is performed annually at Ultuna. Gustaf himself often sang with his brothers. They entertained students during their time at Uppsala University. Witnesses said he had a beautiful tenor voice.
A lesser-known aspect of Prince Gustaf was his deep religious faith. It grew stronger over the years. At 23, he wrote a spiritual composition. It became a chorale for Psalm 451. The psalm is titled “Mina levnadstimmar stupa”.
Zacharias Topelius wrote about Gustaf after his death. He called him “The pearl in a royal crown”. The Prins Gustafs monument stands as a testament to his legacy. It reminds us of a prince. He gave the world his music.