Oskar Merikanto

Short bio Oskar Merikanto

Birthday: 1868 in Helsinki, Finland

Died: 1924 in Hausjärvi-Oitti

Active: 1890s - 1910s

Genre: Classical

Period: 20th Century, Post-Romantic

Full biography Oskar Merikanto

Oskar Merikanto is a Finnish composer and musician who lived from 1868 to 1924. He was born in Helsinki, Finland and was the son of a music teacher. From a young age, he showed an interest and talent in music, which led him to study at the Helsinki Music Institute. He later studied in Berlin and Paris, where he was heavily influenced by the French impressionist style of music.

Merikanto's compositions were varied and included orchestral works, chamber music, piano pieces, and songs. He was known for his use of traditional Finnish melodies in his compositions, as well as his incorporation of impressionist elements into his work.

His most famous works include the suite "Pastorale," the string quartet "Ballet music," and the opera "Juha," which was based on a novel by Juhani Aho. He also composed many popular songs that are still recognized and sung in Finland today, such as "Kesäillan valssi" (Summer Evening Waltz) and "Sydämeni laulu" (The Song of My Heart).

Merikanto's music was greatly admired during his lifetime and brought him much recognition both in Finland and abroad. He was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland and was made a Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland for his contributions to Finnish music.

Today, Merikanto's music stands as a testament to his talent and creativity as a composer. His works are still celebrated and studied by musicians and music lovers around the world.

Compositions featuring Oskar Merikanto

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Rukous (Prayer) for organ	2:32 min	Keyboard	1923
2	Postlude for organ in D major, Op. 88/2	8:08 min	Keyboard	1915
3	Postlude for organ in E flat major, Op. 88/1	6:48 min	Keyboard	1915
4	Postlude for organ in F major, Op. 88/3	5:36 min	Keyboard	1915
5	Lastu, for piano, Op. 76/2	3:24 min	Keyboard	1911
6	Impromptus for piano, Op. 44	9:58 min	Keyboard	1902
7	Häähymni (Wedding Hymn) for organ	5:27 min	Keyboard	1901
8	Fantasia and Chorale ("Suomi surussa"), for organ	9:33 min	Keyboard	1899
9	Romance, for cello & piano	1:43 min	Chamber Music	1899
10	Valse à la Chopin, for piano, Op. 6/5	1:58 min	Keyboard	1898
11	Valse Lente, for piano, Op. 33	2:57 min	Keyboard	1898
12	Muistellessa (Remembering), song for voice & piano, Op. 11/2	3:38 min	Vocal Music	1891
13	Concert Fantasia, for organ	7:39 min	Keyboard	1890
14	Kesäillan Valssi, for piano, Op. 1	3:45 min	Keyboard	1883
15	Schlafe, mein Liebling	3:06 min	Vocal Music	-
16	Scherzo for piano, Op 6/4	2:13 min	Keyboard	-
17	Song for piano, Op 92	1:19 min	Keyboard	-
18	Soi vienosti murheeni soitto (Play Softly, Thou Tune of My Mourning), song for voice & piano, Op. 36/3	2:15 min	Vocal Music	-
19	Sommerabend, Op 1	4:40 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
20	Songs for voice & piano, Op 30		Vocal Music	-
21	Rukous (Prayer) (Ave Maria)	2:37 min	Vocal Music	-
22	Romance, for piano, Op 12	4:05 min	Keyboard	-
23	Passacaglia for organ, Op 80	10:32 min	Keyboard	-
24	Pai pai paitaressu (Bye, Bye Lullaby), for voice & piano, Op. 2/1	2:20 min	Vocal Music	-
25	On the Highest Tree-Top		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
26	Omenankukat (Apple Blossom), song for voice & piano, Op. 53/1	1:26 min	Vocal Music	-
27	O, Dost Thou Remember That Hymn		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
28	Songs for voice & piano, Op 106		Vocal Music	-
29	Zigenarvisa	3:14 min	Vocal Music	-
30	Where Rustling Birches Bend		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
31	Valse Lente	2:58 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
32	Vallinkorvan laulu, Op 24/2	3:19 min	Vocal Music	-
33	Tuulan Tei	1:10 min	Choral	-
34	The Weeping Flute		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
35	Teitä siiunaan, Op. 84/1	1:20 min	Vocal Music	-
36	Suvi-illan vieno tuuli (Summer Evening's Gentle Breezes), song for voice & piano, Op. 87/2	1:46 min	Vocal Music	-
37	Summer Evening Waltz, for piano, Op. 1	4:26 min	Keyboard	-
38	Songs for voice & piano, Op 2		Vocal Music	-
39	Songs for voice & piano, Op 90		Vocal Music	-
40	Songs for voice & piano, Op 83		Vocal Music	-
41	Songs for voice & piano, Op 75		Vocal Music	-
42	Songs for voice & piano, Op 52		Vocal Music	-
43	Songs for voice & piano, Op 47		Vocal Music	-
44	Songs for voice & piano, Op 36		Vocal Music	-
45	Myrskylintu (The Thunderbird), song for voice & piano, Op. 30/4	3:06 min	Vocal Music	-
46	Songs for voice & piano, Op 20		Vocal Music	-
47	Songs for voice & piano, Op 11		Vocal Music	-
48	Hyvää yötä (Goodnight), song for voice & piano, Op. 75/1	2:26 min	Vocal Music	-
49	Kansanlaulu	2:06 min	Vocal Music	-
50	Jo Valkenee Kaukainen Ranta	2:55 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
51	Itätuulessa, song for chorus	4:04 min	Choral	-
52	Iltakellot (Evening Bells), song for voice & piano, Op. 106/1	2:42 min	Vocal Music	-
53	Illansuussa (At Nightfall), song for voice & piano, Op. 69/2	2:01 min	Vocal Music	-
54	Idylli, Op 73/1	4:07 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
55	Idyll, for piano		Keyboard	-
56	Hän kulkevi kuin yli kukkien (She Walks on Flowers), song	1:10 min	Vocal Music	-
57	Hämärissä (In the Twilight), song for voice & piano, Op. 96/1	1:31 min	Vocal Music	-
58	Kesäillan Idylli, for piano, Op 16/2	1:36 min	Keyboard	-
59	Hyvästi (Farewell), song for voice & piano, Op. 87/3	1:23 min	Vocal Music	-
60	Haudoilta-sarja (From the Graves), song cycle, Op. 74	10:46 min	Vocal Music	-
61	From the World of Children, for piano, Op 31	20:52 min	Keyboard	-
62	Finnish Folk Songs, for piano, Op. posth		Keyboard	-
63	Fairy Tale by the Fireside		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
64	Elämälle (To Life), song for voice & piano, Op. 93/4	2:35 min	Vocal Music	-
65	Chorale Preludes (100), for organ	6:06 min	Keyboard	-
66	Balladi (Ballad), song for voice & piano, Op. 69/4	2:43 min	Vocal Music	-
67	Annina, song for voice & piano, Op. 51/2	2:54 min	Vocal Music	-
68	Lemminkäisen äiti	1:49 min	Choral	-
69	Nuoruuden ylistys (Praise of Youth), song for voice & piano, Op. 69/3	2:04 min	Vocal Music	-
70	Nocturne, song for voice & piano	2:31 min	Vocal Music	-
71	Mä Oksalla Ylimmällä, for piano, Op. 26	6:32 min	Keyboard	-
72	Album Leaves	6:02 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
73	Miksi laulan (Why Do I Sing), song for voice & piano, Op. 20/2	1:22 min	Vocal Music	-
74	Metsäkyyhkyset (The Wood-doves), song for voice & piano, Op. 47/1	2:50 min	Vocal Music	-
75	Merellä (At Sea), song for voice & piano, Op. 47/4	4:33 min	Vocal Music	-
76	Ma elän! (I Am Alive!), song for voice & piano, Op. 71/1	1:40 min	Vocal Music	-
77	Linnulle kirkkomaalla (To a Bird in the Churchyard), song for voice & piano, Op. 52/2	1:57 min	Vocal Music	-
78	Nälkämaan laulu	3:53 min	Choral	-
79	Laula, tyttö	0:54 min	Vocal Music	-
80	Lastentaru Takkavalkeallä, Op 82/3	2:26 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
81	Laatokka (Lake Ladoga), song for voice & piano, Op. 83/1	3:22 min	Vocal Music	-
82	Kun päivä paistaa	2:04 min	Vocal Music	-
83	Kullan murunen (Thou Art a Nugget of Gold), song for voice & piano, Op. 20/1	1:39 min	Vocal Music	-
84	Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu (Like the Dying Embers Grow Dark), song for voice & piano, Op. 47/2	1:39 min	Vocal Music	-
85	Kottarainen	1:07 min	Vocal Music	-
86	Kiitos Sulle Jumalani (Thanks to God)	33:44 min	Choral	-
87	Kevätlinnuille etelässä	1:48 min	Vocal Music	-

Albums featuring Oskar Merikanto

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Aulis Sallinen, Kalevi Kiviniemi, Oskar Merikanto, Jean Sibelius – Sallinen Organ Works(CD, Album)	2017	Fuga (2)
2	John McCormack (2), Handel, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Merikanto – 1920-1923 Victor Talking Machine Company Recordings(CD, Compilation)	2012	Naxos Historical
3	Abraham Ojanperä, Oskar Merikanto – Savolaisen Laulu(File, MP3)	2010	Not On Label
4	Oskar Merikanto, Jan Lehtola – Complete Works For Organ(CD, Stereo)	2001	Ondine
5	Kesäillan Valssi(CD, Compilation, Stereo)	2000	VL-Musiikki Oy
6	Oskar Merikannon Lauluja Elämälle(CD, Album)	1999	Taidekeskus Salmela
7	Oskar Merikanto, Jorma Hynninen, Kalevi Kiviniemi – Juhlakonsertti (Live)(CD, Album)	1998	ArtInn
8	Muotokuva - Lauluja Ja Taitajia(3×CD, Compilation)	1998	Finlandia Records
9	Giuseppe Verdi, Jean Sibelius, Oskar Merikanto, Edvard Grieg, Bedřich Smetana, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Aram Khatchaturian, Johannes Brahms, Maurice Ravel, Toivo Kuula, Johann Sebastian Bach, Armas Järnefelt, Leonard Bernstein – Lauantain Toivotut Klassikot(CD	1996	Classica (4)
10	Oskar Merikanto, Wagner, Brahms, Matti Raekallio – Säveltäjä Ja Pianisti(CD, )	1995	Classica (4)
11	Merikanto · Melartin · Palmgren · Aaltoila · Malmstén · Haapalainen · Jylhä · Sibelius - Pori Sinfonietta, Juhani Lamminmäki – Valse Lente · Suomalaisia Valsseja(CD, Album)	1994	Not On Label
12	Oskar Merikannon Kauneimmat = Best Of Oskar Merikanto(CD, Compilation)	1993	Finlandia Records
13	Oskar Merikanto, Jorma Hynninen, Ralf Gothóni – The Most Beautiful Songs(CD, Stereo)	1990	Finlandia Records
14	Toivo Kuula & Oskar Merikanto – Kauneimmat Laulut = The Most Beautiful Songs	1987	CS Records (5)
15	Oskar Merikanto, Eero Heinonen (2) – Romanssi	1986	Musiikki-Laiho Oy
16	Oskar Merikanto - Jorma Hynninen, Ralf Gothóni – Lauluja • Songs(LP)	1984	Finlandia Records
17	Song Album	1984	Finlandia Records
18	Oskar Merikanto - Eero Heinonen (2) – Finnische Miniaturen(LP)	1983	Signum
19	Oskar Merikanto, Eero Heinonen (2) – Kesäpäivä Kangasalla(LP, Album, Stereo)	1981	Fuga (2)
20	Oskar Merikanto, Jorma Panula – Kesäillan Valssi(LP, Album)	1979	Gold Disc (2)
21	Oskar Merikanto, Ilkka Kuusisto, Irma Urrila, Raili Kostia, Kim Borg, Usko Viitanen – Oskar Merikannon Lauluja	1968	Rytmi
22	Т. Куусисто, С. Салонен, О. Мериканто, Я. Парвиайнен, Й. Кокконен, Э. Энглунд - Тауно Эйкяя – Финская Органная Музыка(LP, Stereo)	-	Мелодия