Oskar Merikanto (pronounced [ˈoskɑr ˈmeriˌkɑnto] ; born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 1868, Helsinki – 17 February 1924, Hausjärvi-Oitti) was a Finnish composer, music critic, pianist, and organist.[1][2][3]
As a composer, Merikanto was primarily a miniaturist, and his extensive œuvre includes songs and piano pieces (he wrote over 100 of each).[4]: 55 Of the latter, he is best remembered for: Summer Evening Waltz (Kesäillan valssi, Op. 1), Romance (Romanssi, Op. 12), Summer Evening Idyll (Kesäillan idylli, Op. 16/2), Valse lente (Op. 33), and Idyll (Idylli, Op. 73/1).[4]: 56 Merikanto also wrote three operas: The Maiden of the North (Pohjan neiti, 1898), which retains a degree of historical significance as the first opera composed to a Finnish libretto; The Death of Elina (Elinan surma, 1910); and Regina von Emmeritz (1920). However, Merikanto's operas have entered neither the domestic nor the international repertoires.[4]: 56
As a music critic, Merikanto was associated with the Finnish-language, liberal, nationalist newspaper Päivälehti.[citation needed]
- ^ Lappalainen, Seija (2 August 2018). "Merikanto, Oskar (1868–1924)". Kansallisbiografia (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Oskar Merikannon elämäkerta kertoo kutakuinkin kaiken Suosikkisäveltäjästä luettavasti" [Oskar Merikanno's biography tells almost everything about the favorite composer in a readable way]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 10 December 1995. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ Tarpila, Laila (5 August 2019). "Säveltäjä Oskar Merikanto oli Sibeliusta suositumpi mutta ystävien kiusaama – Musiikin syntymäpäiväkalenteri" [Composer Oskar Merikanto was more popular than Sibelius but bullied by friends – Music Birthday Calendar]. yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Korhonen, Kimmo [in Finnish] (2007). Inventing Finnish Music. Translated by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (2nd ed.). Finnish Music Information Centre. ISBN 978-952-5076-61-5 – via Scribd.