Aaltonen, Erkki (Erik Verner)

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Aaltonen, Erkki (Erik Verner)

Aaltonen, Erkki (Erik Verner), Finnish violinist, violist, conductor, and composer; b. Hämeenlinna, Aug. 17, 1910; d. Helsinki, March 8, 1990. He studied violin at the Helsinki Cons., composition privately with Raitio and Palmgren, and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (diploma, 1947). He played in the Helsinki Phil. (1936–66) and was director of the Kullervo Choir (1956–63). From 1966 to 1973 he was music director in Kemi, where he also was director of the Music Coll. (1967–73).

Works

DRAMATIC: Ballet music; film scores. ORCH.: Hämeenlinna, rhapsody (1945); 5 syms. (1947; Hiroshima, 1949; Popular, 1952; 1959; 1964); 2 piano concertos (1948, 1954); Folk Music (1953–60); Violin Concerto (1966). CHAMBER: 5 string quartets; piano pieces. VOCAL: Choral pieces; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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