Aarre Merikanto

Published in 1988.

Polytech Choir
Tapani Länsiö

Available from iTunes Music Store

Content - concerto:

1. Largo - Allegro
2. Largo - Vivace - Adagio
3. Allegro - Vivace

Nonet

1. Adagio - Molto allegro
2. Largo
3. Allegro vivace

Male choir works

1. Let this Night Be Merry (Solo: Risto Saarman)
2. The Idiot
3. Old Lemminkäinen
4. The Swing
5. Caressing The Echo
6. Midsummmer
7. Silence
8. To the Last Living Being (Solo: Jussi Madekivi)

ONDINE Records
Recording: CD, code ODE 703-2

When first published in 1987, this record containing the essential works for male choir by Aarre Merikanto (1893-1958), was a success among critics. It was selected to the Records of the Year -collection of Helsingin Sanomat - the largest newspaper in Finland. The delicate songs of Merikanto - as the rest of his music - never gained success during the composers lifetime. A tragic example of this is the song 'To the Last Living Being', possibly the most impressive song on the record. It was never published by Merikanto, who regarded it as being too difficult for the male choirs of his time. Polytech Choir gave the forgotten song its' first performance in 1985, long after the composer's death. More commonly known pieces on the record are the small delightful songs such as 'Midsummer' and 'Swing', which definitely represent the most beautiful aspects of Finnish male choir music. This collection proves strongly of Merikanto, who mainly dedicated himself to orchestral music, also as one of the most significant Finnish composers for male choir.