The Taciturn Charisma of Alf Linder

This chapter provides information about Alf Linder (1907-83), the legendary Swedish organist. Despite his reserved and taciturn manner, his opinions exerted significant influence on the development of organ performance in Sweden for over forty years, from his first broadcast on Swedish radio in 1940 until his death in 1983. He studied with Otto Olsson in Stockholm, with Günther Ramin in Leipzig, and with Fritz Heitmann in Berlin. He learned the performance style of the great romantics as well as the tenets of the burgeoning neo-baroque movement in Germany. His broad interests also encompassed the organ works of Swedish composers, including Otto Olsson, Oskar Lindberg, and Hilding Rosenberg.