The music of Otto Olsson has received renewed interest, most probably due to an increasing interest in romantic music.

Olsson was born in 1879 in Stockholm. His first teacher was Albert Lindström, organist at the Church of Blaiseholmen in Stockholm and as from 1893, he studied at the Academy of Music in Stockholm. He became organist at the Church of Gustaf Vasa in Stockholm in 1907, a position he held until 1956. Otto Olsson died in 1964.

As a teacher at the Academy of Music, he headed the education of many Swedish church musicians.

As a composer, Olsson is perhaps best known for his works for organ. The sound he had in mind while composing was the organ of Gustav Vasa, the specification of which was made by Olsson and constructed by Åkerman & Lund in 1906. In 1915, it was added to by Setterquist. Olsson was well acquainted with contemporary organ composition and organ building. The organ of Gustav Vasa was given some French features with stops such as trumpet, clairon, and cornet in several manuals. The main feature of this type of organ is the rich foundation of eight-foot stops in all manuals and also 16-foot flute stops, which gives a broad and bearing sound. Olsson's own indications for registrations seem to point out that one should make frequent changes in sound combinations. Thematical motives are emphasized by playing on a particular manual.

Sonata op. 38 is dedicated to N. O. Raasted , Copenhagen