Ruben Liljefors
Ruben Mattias Liljefors (30 September 1871 – 4 March 1936) was a Swedish composer and conductor, brother of the artist Bruno Liljefors.
Also recorded as Ruben Mathias Liljefors · Ruben Mattias Liljefors
Ruben Liljefors

Upplandsmuseet Länsmuseum för Uppsala län · Flickr: Ob3520 · Public domain
- Full name
- Ruben Mathias Liljefors.
- Born
- 1871. · Uppsala Cathedral Assembly.
- Died
- 1936. · Uppsala Cathedral Assembly.
- Nationality
- Sweden.
- Occupation
- composer, conductor and music teacher.
- Education
- Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Uppsala University and University of Music and Theatre Leipzig.
- Teachers
- Ivar Hedenblad, Salomon Jadassohn, Julius Klengel and Paul Homeyer.
- Known for
- När det lider mot jul.
- Honours
- Litteris et Artibus.
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Documentary summary
Ruben Mattias Liljefors (30 September 1871 – 4 March 1936) was a Swedish composer and conductor, brother of the artist Bruno Liljefors.
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wikidata · Q325059 · wikipedia · Ruben Liljefors
In this article
Life
Life
Ruben Liljefors studied at Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Uppsala University and University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. Training under Ivar Hedenblad, Salomon Jadassohn and Julius Klengel is recorded. Knut Håkanson is recorded as having studied under Ruben Liljefors. Employment is recorded with Vasaskolan in Gävle and Gävle Symphony Orchestra. Works named in the authority record are När det lider mot jul. Distinctions recorded are Litteris et Artibus.
Liljefors was born and died in Uppsala. He also studied in Uppsala with Ivar Eggert Hedenblad until 1895, and subsequently in Leipzig with Salomon Jadassohn until 1899. Later he attended the Stockholm Conservatory. He completed his education with Felix Draeseke, Max Reger, and Hermann Ludwig Kutzschbach. From 1902 to 1911, he conducted the choir and orchestra of the Gothenburg Philharmonic Society. Afterwards, he moved to Gävle to conduct the Gävleborg County Orchestra between 1912 and 1931; he also served as a music teacher at the Gävle higher general secondary school during this time. He composed a symphony, a concert overture, a festival overture, an orchestral suite, a piano concerto, a violin sonata, many choral works and songs. One of his best-known pieces is the Swedish Christmas carol När det lider mot jul. His son, Ingemar Liljefors, was also a successful composer, and his grandson, Mats Liljefors, is a well known conductor and violinist.
Orchestra
Orchestra
• Overture in C Minor, WoO (1897) • Symphony in E flat Major, Op. 14 (1906; recorded) • Suite Fritjof & Ingeborg, Op. 17 (1916) • Suite Summer (1919) • Festive Overture (1922) • Three Bagatelles for String Orchestra (1925) • Four Small Folk Pieces (1931) • Festspiel in E flat major (1931) • Suite for String Orchestra (1933)
Concertante works
Concertante works
• Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 5 (1898; recorded) • Romance for Violin and Orchestra (1918)
Choral works with orchestra
Choral works with orchestra
• Song at the dedication of the repaired building of the Uppland Nation (T. Tullberg), for male choir (1902) • Flower Festival (C. Snoilsky), soprano and alto solo, mixed choir and orchestra (1907) • Cantata for the inauguration of Gothenburg University's new Academy Building (A. U. Bååth) soprano, baritone, and tenor solo, mixed choir, male choir, and orchestra (1907) • Bohuslän, Anniversary at the 250-year anniversary of the Peace of Roskilde (E. Evers), solo, mixed choir and organ (1908) • Cantata for Heimdal's 40-year anniversary (S.H.T.-kantat, Bååth), male choir and piano (1908) • Hymn for the Lambert Fair (E. A. Karlfeldt), mixed choir and orchestra (1908) • Cantata for the inauguration of the Gävle Polytechnic's Refurbishment (M. Sterner), tenor solo, mixed choir, blandad kör, boy's choir and orchestra (1914) • For the Home District (H. Hamilton), baritone solo, mixed choir and orchestra (1914)
Chamber music
Chamber music
Violin Sonata in E major, Op. 2 (1895)
Piano music
Piano music
• Menuett, WoO (1886) • Wedding March (for his brother Carl's wedding, 1893) • Four Preludes and Fugues (1898) • Three Melodies (Nos. 1–2, 1899) • Mazurka in F minor • From the Sketchbook (1914) • Sonata in F Minor (1925) • Moment Musical (1928)
Dramatic works
Dramatic works
• Hans Höghet, operetta after Fritz Reuter (1908) • Music for E. Hörman's Fritjof och Ingeborg for solos, choir and orchestra (1908) • Marionette Overture for the Dock Theater at Stockholm's National Exhibition (1909) • Mr. Alarik's Wedding (1910)
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Ruben Liljefors was recorded at birth as Ruben Mathias Liljefors. The authorities additionally record the headings Ruben Mathias Liljefors and Ruben Mattias Liljefors. He was the child of Anders Liljefors. One child is recorded: Ingemar Liljefors.
Identity
Identity
Ruben Liljefors is recorded as having studied at Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Uppsala University and University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. Within the Encyclopedia. Connected to 2 other published records in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.

Tonsättaren Ruben Liljefors i hemmiljö, Svartbäcksgatan 37, Uppsala 1899. The composer Ruben Liljefors at his parents home in Uppsala, Sweden 1899. Persistent
Upplandsmuseet Länsmuseum för Uppsala län · Flickr: Ob3519
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1871
Ruben Liljefors born at Uppsala Cathedral Assembly.
1936
Ruben Liljefors died at Uppsala Cathedral Assembly.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Ruben Liljefors studied at Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Uppsala University and University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. He trained under Ivar Hedenblad, Salomon Jadassohn, Julius Klengel and Paul Homeyer. Each of those relationships is stated by the authority record rather than inferred from style.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,307 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Rubén BladesPerson
- Rubén GonzálezPerson
- Ruben HakhverdyanPerson
- Rubén JuárezPerson
- Rubén RadaPerson
- Ruben RadicaPerson
- Ruben SargsyanPerson
- Rubén ValtierraPerson
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