Oskar Merikanto (; born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 186817 February 1924) 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 def ...

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 m ...

, 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'' (, 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''.

Biography

He was born in

Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...

, the son of Frans Ferdinand Ala-Kanto (his surname is also reported as Aittomäki) from

Jalasjärvi Jalasjärvi is a List of former municipalities of Finland, former municipality of Finland. It was merged to the town of Kurikka on 1 January 2016. It is located in the provinces of Finland, province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern ...

South Ostrobothnia South Ostrobothnia ( ; ) 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 Ostrobothnia is the ninth largest in terms ...

and Anna Helena Merikanto (). Frans got a Swedish-language 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 (; , ), formerly (1855-1917) known as Nikolaistad (; ),Helsinki Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...

; ''Kanto'' refers to his origins from the estate Kanto. He studied for some time at the

Leipzig Conservatory The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig () is a public university in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn as the Conservatorium der Musik (Conservatory of Music), it is the oldest music ...

in Germany, where his teachers were Carl Reinecke, Theodor Coccius, Robert Papperitz, Willy Rechenberg and Gustav Schreck. 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 dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...

''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 , )—with several similar constructions (, , , pronounced in English as )—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing, and whose definitions have often been misunderstood. ''Bel canto'' was not only seen as a vocal technique ...

. He died in Hausjärvi-Oitti.

Personal life

He married Elise "Liisa" Häyrynen in 1892. They had one son, Aarre Merikanto, a noted Finnish composer.

Works

Source

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 * Canon in A major OM 081 * Canon in B major (Canon in Oberquarte) OM 082 * Canon in E major (Canon in Unterquinte) OM 084 * Canon in E major (Canon in Unterterz) OM 085 * Canon in E major OM 086 * Canon in E major OM 087 * Canon in F major OM 088 * Canon in G major OM 089 * Canon in G major 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'' ('' The Maiden of the North'') (1898) * ''

Nälkämaan laulu ''Nälkämaan laulu'' (meaning "Song of the Hunger Land") is a Finnish language, Finnish poem by Ilmari Kianto. It was turned into a song by Oskar Merikanto, and this song is the Regional anthems of Finland, regional anthem of the Kainuu region. Th ...

'' (''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, from Bach's '' English Suites'') * Prelude G minor (arr.) (BWV 808, ditto) * Rukous OM 222 * Sarabande D minor (arr.) (BWV 812, from Bach's '' French Suites'') * Sarabande E minor (arr.) (BWV 810, from Bach's English Suites) * Prelude and Fuge B-flat 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 mieli Op. 7, No. 1 * Stille Sicherheit �änettömässä rauhassa Op. 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 einst Op. 34, No. 1 * Vallflickan as Hirtenmädchen Op. 34, No. 2 * Kyynel ie Träne Op. 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 etsäkyyhkyset Op. 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, neitonen Op. 51, No. 1 * Annina, Op. 51, No. 2 * De gledo på kanalen uun koittaessa Op. 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 unakukat Op. 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 venhoain Op. 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 aukeus Op. 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 kuolemaa Op. 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 käy Op. 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 innish Folk Songs Book 1 * Piano Pieces 4: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja, Book 4 * Piano Pieces 5: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja, Book 5

References

External links

Collected Solo Songs published by Edition Tilli Ltd.
* * Streaming audio at th
Gustavus Adolphus College Archives
*
Zigenaren
*
Lauluja – Tukkijoella ; Vallinkorvan laulu (Vallinkorva's song)
*
Dar björkarna susa (Where the birches sway)
*
Säg, minnes du psalmen vi sjöngo
*
Itkevä huilu ; Soi vienosti murheeni soitto
* Video of Aura Go playing three piano pieces op.20 a
her website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merikanto, Oskar 1868 births 1924 deaths Musicians from Helsinki Musicians from Uusimaa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland) Finnish classical composers Romantic composers Finnish classical pianists Finnish organists Male organists University of Music and Theatre Leipzig alumni Finnish male classical composers 19th-century classical pianists Burials at Hietaniemi Cemetery Finnish male classical pianists 20th-century Finnish conductors (music) 20th-century Finnish male musicians 19th-century Finnish male musicians 20th-century Finnish composers