Education
Kallstenius studied natural sciences at the Lunds universitet, then music at the Leipzig Conservatory under Stephan Krehl from 1904-1907.
Kallstenius studied natural sciences at the Lunds universitet, then music at the Leipzig Conservatory under Stephan Krehl from 1904-1907.
He arranged the traditional folk tune used as the de facto national anthem of Sweden, Du gamla, Du fria. As music librarian at Swedish Radio from 1928-1946 he made a significant contribution in the field of music administration in Sweden. He also served on the Board of the Society of Swedish Composers from 1933-1961 (Treasurer 1933-1943) and was on the board of the Swedish Performing Rights Society from 1932-1957.
In addition to arranging Du gamla, Du fria, his work includes five symphonies and eight string quartets.
He also published an annotated catalogue of Swedish orchestral works. He declared that his "musical religion is called harmonics – everything else is secondary" and from this basis he worked out his "meticulously declamed themes".
Although in later works he employed his own personal interpretation of serial style he also composed charming versions of older Swedish music