Oskar Merikanto (; born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 1868,

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...

17 February 1924, Hausjärvi-Oitti) was a Finnish

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

music critic ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of mus ...

, pianist, and organist. As a composer, Merikanto was primarily a miniaturist, and includes songs and piano pieces (he wrote over 100 of each). Of the latter, he is best remembered for: ''Summer Evening Waltz'' (, Op. 1), ''Romance'' (, Op. 12), ''Summer Evening Idyll'' (, Op. 16/2), (Op. 33), and ''Idyll'' (Op. 73/1). Merikanto also wrote three operas: ''

The Maiden of the North ''The Maiden of the North'' (in Finnish: ) is an opera in three acts written in 1898 by the Finnish composer Oskar Merikanto. The piece was a collaboration with the Finnish author , the Finnish-language libretto of whom was based on a script by t ...

'' (, 1898), which retains a degree of historical significance as the first opera composed to a Finnish libretto; ''The Death of Elina'' (, 1910); and ''Regina von Emmeritz'' (1920). However, Merikanto's operas have entered neither the domestic nor the international repertoires. As a music critic, Merikanto was associated with the Finnish-language, liberal, nationalist newspaper ''

Päivälehti ''Päivälehti'' was a newspaper in Finland, which was then a Grand Duchy under the Czar of Russia. The paper was founded in 1889 as the organ of the Young Finnish Party and was published on six days a week. The founding company of the paper was S ...

''.

Biography

He was the son of Frans Ferdinand Ala-Kanto (his surname is also reported as Aittomäki; 1845–1891) from

Jalasjärvi Jalasjärvi is a former municipality of Finland. It was merged to the town of Kurikka on 1 January 2016. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Jalasjärvi was (30 June ...

Southern Ostrobothnia South Ostrobothnia ( fi, Etelä-Pohjanmaa; sv, Södra Österbotten) is one of the 19 regions of Finland. It borders the regions of Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, and Satakunta. Among the Finnish regions, South ...

and Anna Helena Merikanto (; 1842–1885). Frans got a

Swedish-language Swedish ( ) is a North Germanic language spoken predominantly in Sweden and in parts of Finland. It has at least 10 million native speakers, the fourth most spoken Germanic language and the first among any other of its type in the Nordic countr ...

surname, Mattsson, when he joined the Finnish army. His father had changed the family name from Ala-Kanto to Merikanto in 1882. ''Meri'' means "sea" and refers to his voyage from

Vaasa Vaasa (; sv, Vasa, , Sweden ), in the years 1855–1917 as Nikolainkaupunki ( sv, Nikolajstad; literally meaning "city of Nicholas),

; ''Kanto'' refers to his origins from the estate Kanto. Karl Emil Ståhlberg - Portrait photograph of Oskar Merikanto

He studied for some time at the

Leipzig Conservatory The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig) is a public university in Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn ...

in Germany, where his teachers were

Carl Reinecke Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke (23 June 182410 March 1910) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist in the mid-Romantic era. Biography Reinecke was born in what is today the Hamburg district of Altona; technically he was born a Dane, as ...

Theodor Coccius Theodor Coccius (8 March 1824 – 24 October 1897) was a German pianist and pedagogue. Coccius was born in Knauthain near Leipzig in 1824. He was a pupil of Sigismond Thalberg. He taught at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1864 for the rest of his ...

, Robert Papperitz, Willy Rechenberg and

Gustav Schreck Gustav Ernst Schreck (born 8 September 1849 in Zeulenroda; died 22 January 1918 in Leipzig) was a German music teacher, composer and choirmaster of St. Thomas School, Thomasschule zu Leipzig, in Leipzig from 1893 to 1918. Life Schreck was born ...

. He was notable for his variety of talents – he gave concerts all around Finland, performing on the piano and organ, conducting orchestras, and composing original music. Some of his most beloved compositions are '' Där björkarna susa'', the

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the wa ...

'' Kesäilta'' (''Summer Evening Waltz'') and the ''Valse lente Op. 33''. Albert Gebhard - Portrait of Oskar Merikanto

Merikanto's style is reminiscent of Finnish folk songs, but has its basis in Italian

bel canto Bel canto (Italian for "beautiful singing" or "beautiful song", )—with several similar constructions (''bellezze del canto'', ''bell'arte del canto'')—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing. The phrase was not associat ...

. He died in Hausjärvi-Oitti.

Personal life

He married Elise "Liisa" Häyrynen (1869–1949) in 1892. They had one son,

Aarre Merikanto Aarre Merikanto (29 June 1893 – 28 September 1958) was a Finland, Finnish composer. He was born in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, the son of Elise "Liisa" Häyrynen (1869-1949) and the famous romantic music, romantic composer, professor ...

, a noted Finnish composer.

Works

Piano * Concert-Walzer OM 018 * Erinnerung OM 036 * Fantasia (Tuoll’ on mun kultani) OM 037 (piano four hands) * Fest-Marsch OM 040 * Grande valse OM 044 * Hiljaa illan hämärässä (additional two Solo Voices) * Hopeahääpäivän valjetessa OM 055 * Jesu, elon autuuteni I OM 071 * Jesu, elon autuuteni II Om 071 * Kaanon As-Duuri OM 081 * Kaanon B-Duuri (Canon in Oberquarte) OM 082 * Kaanon E-Duuri (Canon in Unterquinte) OM 084 * Kaanon Es-Duuri (Canon in Unterterz) OM 085 * Kaanon Es-duuri OM 086 * Kaanon Es-duuri OM 087 * Kaanon F-duuri OM 088 * Kaanon G-duuri OM 089 * Kaanon G-duuri OM 090 * Kaipaus OM 092 * Kangasalan tunnelmaa OM 095 * Karjalan jääkärien marssi OM 101 * Kirkkoaikana OM 114 (piano four hands) * Kolja-vals OM 117 * Liebestraum OM 148 * Lied ohne Worte OM 149 * Maa, suuri ja avara I OM 156 * Maa, suuri ja avara II OM 156 * Me sinua, Jesu, ylistämme OM 159 * Molto Allegro Scherzando OM 174 * Parolan marssi OM 202 * Phantasiestück OM 204 * Pianokappale OM 205 * Porilaisten marssi OM 208 * Porin rykmentin marssi OM 209 * Rakas muisto * Ruusu OM 226 * Scherzo * Scherzo G-Duuri * Serenade OM 233 * Syntymäpäivämarssi OM 262 * Syntymäpäiväpoloneesi OM 263 * Taivaasta ilosanoman OM 268 * Tapanien tanssi OM 272 * Tempo di Polonaise OM 274 * Toivo OM 277 * Trauermarsch OM 279 * Träumerei I OM 280 * Träumerei II OM 280 * Ukko Noak OM 293 * Valkoisen kaartin marssi OM 300 * Valse lente Op. 33 * Yksinään * Yli Atlantin Op. 28 * ''Romanssi, Op. 12'' * ''Pohjan neiti'' (''

Maiden of the North ''The Maiden of the North'' (in Finnish: ) is an opera in three acts written in 1898 by the Finnish composer Oskar Merikanto. The piece was a collaboration with the Finnish author , the Finnish-language libretto of whom was based on a script by t ...

'') (1898) * ''

Nälkämaan laulu ''Nälkämaan laulu'' (meaning "the song of the hunger country") is a Finnish poem by Ilmari Kianto. It was turned into a song by Oskar Merikanto. The poem is a traditional poem from the region of Kainuu. Its lyrics describe the natural beauty of ...

'' (''The Song of the Hungry'') (1911) Organ * Choral mit Vorspiel und Zwischenspiel I OM 190 * Choral mit Vorspiel und Zwischenspiel II OM 190 * Choral mit Vorspiel und Zwischenspiel III OM 190 * Der doppelte Contrapunkt OM 019 * Fantasia cromatica OM 038 * Fantasia ja koraali OM 039 * Häähymni edding HymnOM 057 * Iltalaulu bendlied(arr.) * Konserttifantasia OM 120 * Passacaglia Op. 80 * Postludium I Op. 88 No 1 * Postludium II Op. 88 No 2 * Postludium III Op. 88 No 3 * Prelude A minor (arr.) (BWV 807) * Prelude G minor (arr.) (BWV 808) * Rukous OM 222 * Sarabande D minor (arr.) (BWV 812) * Sarabande E minor (arr.) (BWV 810) * Prelude and Fuge B minor (BWV 891) (arr.) Solo Voice * Pai, pai, paitaressu Op. 2 No 1 * Vanha mummo Op. 2 No 2 * Onneton Op. 2 No 3 * Die Sprache des Waldes etsän mieliOp. 7 No 1 * Stille Sicherheit �änettömässä rauhassaOp. 7 No 2 * Scheideblick Op. 7 No 3 * Ewige Treue Op. 7 No 4 * Kevätlinnuille etelässä Op. 11 No 1 * Muistellessa Op. 11 No 2 * Yöllä Op. 11 No 3a * Se rakkaus Op. 13 No 4 * Tuulan tei Op. 13 No 5 * Hennan keinulaulu Op. 14 No 2 * Reppurin laulu Op. 14 No 10 * Kun saapuu Herra Zebaoth Op. 17 * Hyljätty Op. 18 No 1 * Ilta tuntureilla Op. 18 No 2 * Haave Op. 18 No 3a * Immen pelko Op. 18 No 4 * Se kolmas Op. 19b * Kullan murunen Op. 20 No 1 * Miksi laulan Op. 20 No 2 * Vertaus Op. 20 No 3a * Kun päivä paistaa Op. 24 No 1 * Vallinkorvan laulu Op. 24 No 2 * Laulan lasta nukkumahan Op. 30 No 1 * Laula tyttö! Op. 30 No 2 * Tule! Op. 30 No 3 * Myrskylintu Op. 30 No 4 * Mä lykkään purteni laineillen Op. 32 No 1 * Kas, oksa värähtää Op. 32 No 2 * Hän kulkevi kuin yli kukkien Op. 32 No 3 * Kylän tiellä Op. 32 No 4 * Nyt ja sitten etzt und einstOp. 34 No 1 * Vallflickan as HirtenmädchenOp. 34 No 2 * Kyynel ie TräneOp. 34 No 3 * Ainut hetki Op. 36 No 1 * Kottarainen Op. 36 No 2 * Soi vienosti murheeni soitto Op. 36 No 3 * An den Frühling Op. 38 No 1 * Ström' leise Op. 38 No 2 * Wehmut Op. 38 No 3 * Takt Op. 38 No 4 * Ilmattaren laulu Op. 40 No 1 * Rukous (Ave Maria) Op. 40 No 2 * Töne der Waldtauben etsäkyyhkysetOp. 47 No 1 * Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu Op. 47 No 2 * Aftonstämning Op. 47 No 3 * Merellä Op. 47 No 4a * Merellä Op. 47 No 4b * Tuonen tytön laulu Op. 48 No 1 * Tuuti lulla mun kuopustain Op. 48 No 2 * Kun vaan laulaa saan Op. 49 No 1 * Kuolema kannelta löi Op. 49 No 2 * Jos olet mun! Op. 49 No 3 * Vackra flicka, gift dig snart tsi sulho, neitonenOp. 51 No 1 * Annina Op. 51 No 2 * De gledo på kanalen uun koittaessaOp. 51 No 3 * Taas soivat ne suuret surut Op. 52 No 1 * Linnulle kirkkomaalla Op. 52 No 2 * Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren Op. 52 No 3 * Itkevä huilu Op. 52 No 4 * Omenankukat Op. 53 No 1 * Oi, minne emon lintunen lensi? Op. 53 No 2 * Kun nukahdan katsoen tähtiin ma Op. 54 * Illan kuutamossa Op. 58 No 1 * Lapselle Op. 58 No 2 * Yksin Op. 58 No 3 * Kevätlaulu Op. 58 No 4 * Elämän laulu Op. 61 * Tuuti, mun vauvani, nukkukaa! Op. 67 No 1 * Tipu, tipu, kuuleppas! Op. 67 No 2 * Paimentyttö Op. 67 No 3 * Matka maailman loppuun Op. 67 No 4 * Ilialin laulu Op. 69 No 1 * Illansuussa Op. 69 No 2 * Nuoruuden ylistys Op. 69 No 3 * Balladi Op. 69 No 4 * Ma elän! Op. 71 No 1 * Talvikukkia Op. 71 No 2 * Valkeat ristit Op. 74 No 1 * Laulaja taivaan portilla Op. 74 No 2 * Käy kirkkomaata illoin vanhat mummot Op. 74 No 3 * Päivännousu kultaa kirkkomaan Op. 74 No 4 * Hyvää yötä Op. 75 No 1 * Lauantai-ilta Op. 75 No 2 * Tule kanssani Op. 75 No 3 * Laula, laula, lapsonen Op. 78 No 1 * Mä haaveksin näin Op. 78 No 2 * Surun voima Op. 78 No 3 * Sinulle Op. 81 No 1 * Rote Blumen unakukatOp. 81 No 2 * Niin sinua katsoin, neiti Op. 81 No 3 * Gamla Maja Op. 81 No 4 * Yö Op. 82 No 1 * Aamulaulu Op. 82 No 2 * Lastentaru takkavalkealla Op. 82 No 3 * Enten - Eller Op. 82 No 4 * Laatokka Op. 83 No 1 * Tule tuskaani yö Op. 83 No 2 * Päivä Op. 83 No 3 * Vi ses igen! Op. 83 No 4 * Teitä siunaan Op. 84 No 1 * Vågorna vagga min hvita båt altoset tuutivat venhoainOp. 84 No 2 * Öiset tiuvut Op. 87 No 1 * Suvi-illan vieno tuuli Op. 87 No 2 * Hyvästi! Op. 87 No 3 * Kansanlaulu Op. 90 No 1 * En skymningsvisa Op. 90 No 2 * Suvi-ilta Op. 91 No 1 * Sommarmorgon i skogen Op. 91 No 2 * Visa i väntan Op. 91 No 3 * Kasakan kehtolaulu Op. 91 No 4 * Agneta Op. 93 No 1 * Genezaretin rannalla Op. 93 No 2 * Bedövning aukeusOp. 93 No 3 * Elämälle Op. 93 No 4 * Hämärissä Op. 96 No 1 * Vågen Op. 96 No 2 * Min älskade Op. 96 No 3 * Äitini silmät Op. 99 * Polska Op. 103 No 1 * Fågelungarna flögo ur bo Op. 103 No 2 * Bacchanal Op. 105 No 1 * Mot segern Op. 105 No 2 * Allting glider mot döden aikki liukuu kohti kuolemaaOp. 105 No 3 * Iltakellot Op. 106 No 1 * Sinipiiat Op. 106 No 2 * Minä laulan sun iltasi tähtihin Op. 106 No 3 * Laulelen pojalleni pikkuiselle Op. 107 No 1 * Maid, wo ist deiner Augen Glanz Op. 107 No 2 * Ainoa maan päällä Op. 107 No 3 * Frisch gesungen! Op. 108 No 1 * Mutter Op. 108 No 2 * Hab' Sonne! Op. 108 No 3 * Beherzigung un sulle taakaks' elo käyOp. 109 No 1 * Käsittämätön Jumala Op. 109 No 2 * Kummaa on mielestäin Op. 109 No 3 * Yö Op. 110 No 1 * Syyslaulu Op. 110 No 2 * Mummo Op. 110 No 3 * Aurinko laski Op. 113 No 1 * Mistä — mihin? Op. 113 No 2 * Huolissaan huokaileva OM 056 * Ihmis-elo OM 061 * Im Waldgeheg’ OM 063 * Kiitävi aatos kaipuun siivin OM 112 * Kom! OM 118 * Koskenlaskijan laulu OM 121 * Kotiranta OM 122 * Lemmen laulu OM 145 * Liebesfeier OM 147 * Maammopa valvoi marjuttansa OM 157 * Marjatan kehtolaulu OM 158 * Nocturne OM 180 * O pauvre mère malheureuse OM 188 * Oh Phantasie, du süßes Träumen! OM 189 * Romanssi ilman sanoja OM 221 (Voice and Lute) * Släktvisan OM 240 * Vad fattas mig än? OM 298 * Viihdy täällä impi kukka OM 313 * Voi äiti parka ja raukka OM 319

Sheet music

* Piano Pieces 1: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 1. Vihko * Piano Pieces 4: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 4. Vihko * Piano Pieces 5: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 5. Vihko

References

External links