Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775 - 1838), composer and clarinetist. Crusell, who was born in Uusikaupunki is internationally renowned Finnish composer from era before Sibelius. He lived in Sweden since 1791 where he worked as a clarinetist for the Royal Capella in 1793 - 1833. His compositions "Tolf Sånger ur Frithiofs saga" (1826) and "Sång till solen" were extremely popular just like his songs for men quartets, for example "Hell dig, du höga Nord" ("Hail You, High North").

Crusell's only attempt as a opera composer was an opus Pieni Orjatar (Little Slave Girl). It's a romantic opera, which is based on the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. The opera was a first opus ever created by Finnish composer, which had premiere in Stockholm in 1824. Libretto was written by French Guilbert Pixerecourt. Crusell compiled Swedish translations to many masterpieces of opera, e.g. some of the Mozart's operas.

One of his best and still played works are concertos for clarinet as well as any chamber music with clarinet or some other woodwind instrument. Melodicity and songality of his music is French influenced, but the form follows the paragons of Viennesse classicism and later it had romantic elements in spirit of Spohr and Weber.

Because of his linguistic skills he was given numerous librettos to translate (e.g. for operas of Mozart, Rossini, Meyerbeer and Auber).

He gained reputation as a masterful musician and he travelled to study and perform to Germany in 1798, 1803 (also in Paris) and 1811. Crusell composed for example three clarinet concertos, other soloist opuses, three clarinet quartets and other chamber music and songs in fluent classical style.

Family of master composer Bernhard Henrik Crusell originated from Satakunta. Grandfather of Bernhard Henrik, who had gained his creed in Turku and Stockholm, was a master bookbinder Henrik Kruselius, who settled to Pori.

Family had nine children, one of them was Jakob, father of the master composer. Jakob inherited his father's bookbinder profession. When Jakob received his documents of apprentice he settled to Uusikaupunki in 1765, there he married twice. First spouse Helena Ylander died soon after a year of marriage. He married his second wife Margaretha Messman in 1769.

Jakob and Margaretha Crusell had four children, only Bernhard Henrik born in Uusikaupunki 15.10.1775 survived to adulthood. During birth of the son, family lived in a house at Myllykatu in Uusikaupunki. Family moved to Nurmijärvi when the son was just 8 years old. According to Crusell him self his passion for music started already in Uusikaupunki.

In his recollections B.H. Crusell speaks about himself in a third persona, as we can see in the following quote:

"There was only one person in his little town of birth, who had interest in music: a boutique helper, who sounded a flute for his pleasure. Four years old Berndt sat on a street one night, back against the wall mesmerized by the enchantment of the beauteous tunes.

His parents, who had looked for their son for a long time, chided him solemnly, but this didn't stopped the boy from returning to his favorite spot on the next night. This time he was beaten for his disobedience, but when they noticed even that didn't helped, they left him for his "buzz" in trust he would return back home, when the flute went silent..."