Gustav Duben

Full biography Gustav Duben

Gustaf Düben (also spelled Gustav and Duben) was a Swedish composer and organist born in Stockholm in 1628. He was a member of a prominent family of musicians, with his father, Andreas Düben, serving as court Kapellmeister and his brother, Magnus Düben, also being an organist and composer. Gustaf Düben himself served as organist at various churches in Stockholm, including the Storkyrkan and the German Church. He was also a court musician for Queen Christina of Sweden.

Düben is best known for his collection of manuscript scores, which includes works by both Swedish and German composers such as Bach, Buxtehude, and Pachelbel. He was an avid music collector and his manuscript collection, known as the Düben Collection, is now housed in the Uppsala University Library in Sweden. Düben also composed music himself, with surviving works including a suite in D minor and a few keyboard works.

Düben passed away on December 19, 1690, leaving behind a legacy of not only his own compositions but also his extensive collection of manuscripts which have provided valuable insights into the music of his time.