Merikanto, Aarre
Merikanto, Aarre
Merikanto, Aarre, Finnish composer and teacher, son of (Frans) Oskar Merikanto; b. Helsinki, June 29, 1893; d. there, Sept. 29, 1958. He studied composition with Melartin at the Helsinki Music Inst.; then in Leipzig with Reger (1912–14) and with Vasilenko in Moscow (1915–16). In 1936 he joined the faculty at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and in 1951 succeeded Palmgren as head of the dept. of composition there; held this post until his death. Like his father, he wrote on themes of Finnish folklore, but some of his early works reveal Russian and French traits.
Works
dramatic: opera:Juha (1920–22; Finnish Radio, Helsinki, Dec. 3, 1958; 1st stage perf., Lahti, Oct. 28, 1963). orch.: 3 piano concertos (1913, 1937, 1955); 3 syms. (1916, 1918, 1953); 4 violin concertos (1916, 1925, 1931, 1954); Lemminkainen, symphonic suite (1916); 2 cello concertos (1919; 1941–44); Pan, symphonic poem (1924); Concerto for Violin, Clarinet, Horn, and String Sextet (1925); Concert Piece for Cello and Chamber Orch. (1926); Symphonic Study (1928; mutilated; reconstructed by P. Heininen, 1981; Helsinki, Aug. 26, 1982); Notturno, symphonic poem (1929); Kyllikin ryöstö (The Abduction of Kyllikki), symphonic poem (1935); Scherzo (1937); 3 Impressions (1940); Soitelma kesäyölle (Music to the Summer Night; 1942). chamber: 2 string quartets (1913, 1939); String Trio (1912); Piano Trio (1917); Nonet (1926); String Sextet (1932); Partita for Harp and Woodwinds (1936). vocal:Genesis for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1956); Tuhma (Simpleton) for Men’s Chorus and Orch. (1956); songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire