Aarre Merikanto, one of Finland's greatest composers, was the son of Oskar Merikanto, Finland's best-known song composer.
Composition History
Aarre Merikanto's Symphony No. 1 was written twice, and parts of it even several times, with its premiere in November 1914.
Composer Biography
Aarre Merikanto began composing large-scale works like an opera, string trios, quartets, a piano concerto, and a symphony by the age of 22.
Performer Biography
The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra is the oldest orchestra in Finland and one of the oldest in the world, with roots dating back to 1790.
Compositional Technique
Merikanto's Third Symphony belongs to the 'second wave' of Neoclassicism in Finnish music, characterized by modal rather than tonal approaches, often resulting in 'white-key music'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
As a young man, Aarre Merikanto had a 'quantitative' approach to composing, counting bars and durations, and boasting about the size of his orchestra.
Compositional Technique
The Third Symphony is scored for a very large orchestra, including four flutes and trumpets, yet maintains a clear and transparent sound.
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