Oskar Merikanto (5 August 1868 – 17 February 1924) was a Finnish

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 and composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

.

He was born to Swedish-speaking parents in Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

. His father, originally Frank Mattsson, changed the family name to sound more Finnish.

He was notable for his variety of talents – he gave concerts all around Finland, performing on the piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 and organ

Organ (music)

The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...

, conducting orchestras, and composing original music. Some of his most beloved compositions are Där björkarna susa, and the waltz

Waltz

The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...

 Kesäillan valssi (Summernight's Waltz).

He died in Hausjärvi-Oitti

Hausjärvi

Hausjärvi is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Oitti.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Tavastia Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...

.

His son Aarre Merikanto

Aarre Merikanto

Aarre Merikanto was a Finnish composer.He was the son of Liisa Häyrynen and the famous romantic composer, professor Oskar Merikanto. His childhood he spent in Vilppula, Finland. From year 1919, he was married to Meri Grönmark...

 is one of the most notable Finnish composers.

Works

• Romanssi, Op. 12
• Pohjan neiti (Maiden of the North
  Maiden of the North
  Maiden of the North is an opera by Oskar Merikanto. Composed in 1898, it was the first opera composed in the Finnish language; while other Finnish operas had been written previously, they had been composed in the Swedish language instead of the native Finnish. Maiden was written to a libretto by...
  
  ) (1898)
• Nälkämaan laulu
  Nälkämaan laulu
  Nälkämaan laulu is a Finnish poem by Ilmari Kianto. It was turned into a song by Oskar Merikanto.The poem is a traditional poem from the region of Kainuu...
  
  (The Song of the Hungry) (1911)
• various pieces for organ, including "Wedding Hymn"

He wrote vocal music in German, Swedish and Finnish. It includes

• Rote Blumen
• An den Fruhling/Keväälle
• Ström' leise / Oi, tyynny, sa virta
• Wehmut/Alakuloisuus
• Till Dig
• Omenakukat
• Ma Elän
• Rukous (Ave Maria)
• Pai Pai Paitaressu

Sheet Music

• Piano Pieces 1: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 1. Vihko
• Piano Pieces 4: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 4. Vihko
• Piano Pieces 5: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja 5. Vihko

External links