Looking from both a nationwide and international perspective Sven-David Sandström may be the most well known of all contemporary Swedish composers. The already considerable production of Sandström has been achieved while at the same time holding a professorship of composition at Stockholm University. In the 70s Sandström used to be a student there himself and his teacher back then was Ingvar Lidholm. Since the autumn of 1999, however, Sandström is teaching composition at Indiana University in the USA. In 1974 Sandströms orchestral work, Through and Through, was performed by Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and this signified his breakthrough as a composer.

The work of Sven-David Sandström covers various musical styles and sometimes even single compositions are characterised by a mixture of styles. For instance, a melodious and very singable theme may be followed by rhythmical energy à la Ligeti. To give two examples of this one might mention his second piano concerto and his cello concerto.
Choral music in particular seems to appeal to Sandström and perhaps it is as a composer of choral works that he has earned his greatest reputation. In Sweden he has attracted much attention with his requiem De ur alla minnen fallna (roughly translated Those from All Memory Lost) with lyrics by the poet Tobias Berggren. Another example is High Mass written for soloist, chorus and orchestra which was first performed in 1994. Moreover, in 1997 Sandström composed the oratorio Moses in honour of the tercentenary of Oslo cathedral.

The Swedish dramatist Lars Norén has on occasion included Sandströms music in his television plays, for instance excerpts from the opera Staden (The City) with lyrics by Katarina Frostenson, as well as an absolutely beautiful, orchestrated song in the play Gertrud.

Sven-David Sandström has been awarded several marks of respect, among them Nordiska Rådets pris (roughly translated The Award of the Nordic Council) and the prestigious Buxtehude Award. The music by Sandström is an excellent place to start for someone who is new to modern music and who is perhaps also a bit apprehensive about it. That, however, is a subject to which we will return in the future.