The Museum's Father: Otto Andersson

1879–1969

“I have always been interested in collecting. – I have been especially interested in music, not only music tradition but sheet music and instruments as well.” – Otto Andersson, Hufvudstadsbladet 14.10.1959

The founder of the Sibelius Museum Otto Andersson was born in the Åland archipelago on the island of Vårdö. At age 17, he moved to Turku to study church music. Alongside his studies, he continued a childhood hobby of playing the violin and worked as a brass player in the Turku Battalion Band. After graduating from the bellringer-organist school, Andersson moved to Helsinki to continue his studies: first at the Helsinki Music Institute, then The University of Helsinki. His studies culminated in a doctoral dissertation on the jouhikko, a traditional bowed lyre in 1923. Three years later he returned to Turku to work as professor of musicology and folklore at Åbo Akademi. Later he worked as the rector of the Akademi.

Already during his studies, he distinguished himself as an eager collector of folk tradition, as well as a choir leader. He recorded a vast amount of Finnish Swedish folk music. After returning to Turku, Andersson tracked down collections of historical music-related documents and sheet music, and wrote several books, articles and presentations related to music. He was also preparing a biography of Jean Sibelius, which was never finished. Andersson retired from the Sibelius Museum in 1959.

First and foremost, Andersson is remembered for his merits in music research, but he also wrote publicly about the Åland Islands dispute and his positive take on Nazi Germany.