Oskar Merikanto

Oskar Merikanto (; born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 186817 February 1924) was a Finnish composer, music critic, 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). He studied for some time at the Leipzig Conservatory 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 Kesäilta (Summer Evening Waltz) and the Valse lente, Op. 33. Merikanto’s style is reminiscent of Finnish folk songs, but has its basis in Italian bel canto. 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