Oskar Merikanto

Oskar Merikanto (pronounced [ˈoskɑr ˈmeriˌkɑnto] (listen); born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 1868, Helsinki – 17 February 1924, Hausjärvi-Oitti) was a Finnish composer, music critic, pianist, and organist.

As a composer, Merikanto was primarily a miniaturist, and his extensive œuvre includes songs and piano pieces (he wrote over 100 of each). Of the latter, he is best remembered for: Summer Evening Waltz (Kesällan valssi, Op. 1), Romance (Romanssi, Op. 12), Summer Evening Idyll (Kesällan idyll, Op. 16/2), Valse lente (Op. 33), and Idyll (Op. 73/1). Merikanto also wrote three operas: The Maiden of the North (Pohjan neiti, 1898), which retains a degree of historical significance as the first opera composed to a Finnish libretto; The Death of Elina (Elinan surma, 1910); and Regina von Emmeritz (1920). However, Merikanto's operas have entered neither the domestic nor the international repertoires.

As a music critic, Merikanto was associated with the Finnish-language, liberal, nationalist newspaper Päivälehti.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 5, 1868 (Helsinki), Died February 17, 1924 (Oitti)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 19170 10-in. 12/21/1910 Tuulan tei Juho Koskelo Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 19189 10-in. 1/5/1911 Oi, muistatko vielä sen verren Juho Koskelo Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 43724 10-in. January 1916 Onnelliset Juho Koskelo Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 43964 10-in. 1916 Työväen marssi Juho Koskelo Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 44577 10-in. either 1916 or 1917 Pai, pai, paitaressu Elli Suokas Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 44612 10-in. approximately October 1916 Kymmenen virran maa Juho Koskelo Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 105467 10-in. February 1928 Kesä-illalla Otto Pyykkönen Male vocal solo, with violins and piano composer  
Edison 7551 10-in. 9/29/1920 Soi vienosti murheeni soitto Juho Koskelo Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 9549 10-in. 6/4/1924 Soipa kieli Otto Pyykkönen Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Gramophone BN196 10-in. 01/19/1929 Mustalainen Erling Krogh Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Gramophone BE1559 10-in. 5/17/1929 Soi vienosti murheeni soitto Oiva Soini Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Gramophone BE1578 10-in. 5/21/1929 Linjaalirattaat Arvo Hannikainen Violin solo, with piano composer  
Gramophone BW1693 10-in. 6/1/1928 Miksi laulan Wäinö Sola Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone BW1700 10-in. 6/1/1928 Oi jos ilta joutuisi (Oh that evening would come) Mieskuoro Laulu-Miehet ; Eino Rautavaara Male vocal chorus and soloist, unaccompanied composer  
Gramophone BE2557 10-in. 6/5/1930 Lastentaru takkavalkealla Oiva Soini Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Gramophone Bb11344 10-in. 9/2/1927 A fairy story by the fire John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with piano composer  
Gramophone 19762b 10-in. 11/7/1915 Lienan kahvilaulu Ilvari Kainulainen Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Gramophone 19769b 10-in. 11/7/1915 Tuulan tei Wäinö Sola Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
(Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Merikanto, Oskar," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104709.

Merikanto, Oskar. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104709.

"Merikanto, Oskar." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104709

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