Photo: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Oskar Merikanto
Person · male · Finland · Helsinki · born 1868 · died 1924 · recording since 1990
Finnish musician and composer (1868–1924)
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Also known as Frans Oskar Mattson · Frans Oskar Merikanto · Oskar Mattson · 奥斯卡·梅里坎托
Timeline
10 events▣ Album 7◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1860s
1920s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Most Beautiful Songs
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography361 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1360415193
Biography
Oskar Merikanto (pronounced [ˈoskɑr ˈmeriˌkɑnto] ; born Frans Oskar Ala-Kanto; 5 August 1868 – 17 February 1924) 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 (Kesäillan valssi, Op. 1), Romance (Romanssi, Op. 12), Summer Evening Idyll (Kesäillan idylli, Op. 16/2), Valse lente (Op. 33), and Idyll (Idylli, 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.
Biography
He was born in Helsinki, the son of Frans Ferdinand Ala-Kanto (his surname is also reported as Aittomäki) from Jalasjärvi, South Ostrobothnia and Anna Helena Merikanto (née Tammelin). Frans got a Swedish-language surname, Mattsson, when he joined the Finnish army. His father had changed the family name from Ala-Kanto to Merikanto in 1882. Meri means "sea" and refers to his voyage from Vaasa to Helsinki; Kanto refers to his origins from the estate Kanto.
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.
Sheet music
Piano Pieces 1: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja [Finnish Folk Songs], Book 1
Piano Pieces 4: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja, Book 4
Piano Pieces 5: Suomalaisia Kansanlauluja, Book 5
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 8 | 81.1th |
| Studio albums | 7 | 87.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 10 | 86.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -66 | 5.9th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (8 release groups · 7 studio albums)
Albums · 7
1990 · studio album
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Tracklist · 32 tracks · 1:14:39
1Miksi laulan, op. 20 no. 21:102Muistellessa, op. 11 no. 23:513Myrskylintu, op. 30 no. 43:044Metsäkyyhkyset, op. 47 no. 12:405Soi vienosti murheeni soitto, op. 36 no. 62:116Annina2:317Laatokka, op. 83 no. 13:508Elämälle, op. 93 no. 42:239Käsittämätön Jumala, op. 109 no. 22:1710Rukous (Ave Maria), op. 40 no. 23:2311Tule kanssani, op. 75 no. 31:2912Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu, op. 47 no. 21:4913Kas, oksa värähtää, op. 32 no. 21:5714Pai, pai, paitaressu, op. 2 no. 12:2115Merellä, op. 47 no. 43:5916Kevätlinnuille etelässä, op. 11 no. 11:3717Kullan murunen, op. 20 no. 11:2818Kiitävi aatos kaipuun siivin1:1519Lauantai-ilta, op. 75 no. 22:3520Laulaja taivaan portilla, op. 74 no. 21:4921Balladi, op. 69 no. 42:4722Nuoruuden ylistys, op. 69 no. 32:0423Laulelen pojalleni pikkuiselle, op. 107 no. 13:1424Ma elän, op. 71 no. 11:2325Itkevä huilu, op. 52 no. 42:1926Huolissaan huokaileva0:5927Omenankukat, op. 53 no. 11:3028Oi, minne emon lintunen lensi, op. 53 no. 22:5629Nocturne2:4430Illansuussa, op. 69 no. 21:5131Hyvää yötä, op. 75 no. 12:4032Iltakellot, op. 106 no. 12:332001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:04:59
1Häähymni5:202Sarabande in D minor2:433Postlude in D major, op. 88/27:594Evening Song3:285Postlude in E-flat major, op. 88/16:396Fantasia and Chorale “Suomi surussa”9:247Postlude in F major, op. 88/35:278Sarabande in E minor2:569Concert Fantasia7:3010Prayer3:0011Passacaglia, op. 8010:332008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 25 tracks · 58:46
1Omenankukat1:222Linnulle kirkkomaalla1:523Suvi-illan vieno tuuli1:414Muistellessa3:555Miksi laulan1:116Kullan murunen1:377Merellä4:138Myrskylintu3:039Laatokka3:3010Iltakellot2:3711Valkeat ristit2:3912Laulaja taivaan portilla1:3613Käy kirkkomaata illoin4:1514Päivännousu kultaa kirkkomaan1:5815Hyvästi!1:2216Hyvää yötä2:2217Hämärissä1:2618Elämälle2:1319Annina3:3220Illansuussa1:5721Nocturne2:2522Balladi2:3823Nuoruuden ylistys1:5924Soi vienosti murheeni soitto1:5425Ma elän!1:292017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:07:28
1Passacaglia, op. 808:442Surumarssi Zachris Topeliuksen kuoleman johdosta, op. 259:233Intrada, op. 111a6:424Surusoitto, op. 111b5:135Chaconne, op. 235:566Variazioni Per Organo (Muunnelmia uruille), op. 1048:077Three Adagios, op. 10211:588Preludes and Fugues, op. 95b11:252024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 54 tracks · 1:19:06
1Fantasia chromatica, OM 0384:192Trauermarsch, OM 2797:443Konzert‐Etüden, OM 119: No. 1. Moderato energico2:514Konzert‐Etüden, OM 119: No. 2. Moderato2:135Konzert‐Etüden, OM 119: No. 3. Lento – Moderato con moto2:096Konzert‐Etüden, OM 119: No. 4. Moderato (alla barcarola)3:587Konzert‐Etüden, OM 119: No. 5. Allegretto (quasi veloce)2:358100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 7 in C major1:599100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 17 in G major0:4210100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 18 in G major0:3511100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 19 in G major1:0912100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 20 in G major0:5913100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 22 in E minor1:2114100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 24 in E minor0:4115100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 25 in E minor0:4216100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 26 in E minor0:3617100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 28 in D minor0:3718100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 30 in D major0:2819100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 33 in D major0:4820100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 34 in D major0:4021100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 37 in B‐flat minor0:3422100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 38 in B‐flat minor0:3623100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 44 in F‐sharp minor0:4924100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 45 in F‐sharp minor0:4625100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 47 in E major0:4726100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 48 in E major2:2827100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 52 in F major0:4328100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 55 in F major1:0029100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 59 in D minor0:3730100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 61 in D minor1:0831100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 63 in D minor1:3232100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 65 in B major0:3433100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 67 in B major0:5134100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 68 in B major1:0335100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 69 in B major1:0936100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 73 in G minor0:4037100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 74 in G minor0:3838100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 75 in G minor1:0839100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 77 in G minor1:2540100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 79 in E‐flat major1:1341100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 83 in E‐flat major1:0342100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 85 in E‐flat major0:4843100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 87 in C minor0:4644100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 90 in C minor1:3045100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 91 in A‐flat major0:5646100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 94 in A‐flat major0:4447100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 95 in A‐flat major1:1448100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 96 in F minor0:4449100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 97 in F minor1:2150100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 98 in F minor0:5951100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 99 in F minor1:0952100 Chorale Preludes, op. 59: No. 100 in F minor0:4453Prelude & Fugue in E minor, op. 35 no. 1: I. Prelude, MWV U 1162:5554Prelude & Fugue in E minor, op. 35 no. 1: II. Fugue, MWV U 667:262024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 29 tracks · 1:09:24
1Finnish Song Compositions I, Op. 2: No. 1, Pai, pai, paitaressu2:182Finnish Song Compositions V, Op. 52: No. 4, Itkevä huilu2:273Finnish Song Compositions VIII, Op. 69: No. 2, Illansuussa2:204Lauluja pianon saestyksella, Op. 36: No. 3, Soi vienosti murheeni soitto2:035Yksinlauluja, Op. 87: No. 3, Hyvästi!1:2464 Songs, Op. 47: No. 1, Metsäkyyhkyset2:3674 Songs, Op. 47: No. 2, Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu1:298Finnish Song Compositions I, Op. 2: No. 2, Vanha mummo2:269Finnish Song Compositions I, Op. 2: No. 3, Onneton3:1210Finnish Song Compositions II, Op. 11: No. 1, Kevätlinnuille etelässä1:39114 Songs, Op. 47: No. 4, Merellä4:05123 Songs, Op. 110: No. 1, Yö1:54133 Songs, Op. 110: No. 2, Syyslaulu2:06143 Songs, Op. 110: No. 3, Mummo1:44154 Songs, Op. 93: No. 4, Elämälle2:21162 Songs, Op. 40: No. 2, Rukous2:3617Haudoilta, Op. 74: No. 2, Laulaja taivaan portilla1:2718Haudoilta, Op. 74: No. 3, Käy kirkkomaata illoin vanhat mummot3:52193 Songs, Op. 75: No. 1, Hyvää yötä2:2820Yksinlauluja, Op. 87: No. 2, Suvi-illan vieno tuuli1:5021Songs, Op. 83: No. 1, Laatokka3:1322Juhannustulilla, Op. 14: No. 10, Reppurin laulu2:5123Finnish Song Compositions VIII, Op. 69: No. 4, Balladi2:3924Nocturne, OM 1802:2325Marjatan kehtolaulu, OM 1581:39262 Songs, Op. 113: No. 1, Aurinko laski2:5227Lauluja, Op. 106: No. 1, Iltakellot2:2128Finnish Song Compositions V, Op. 52: No. 3, Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren3:33293 Songs, Op. 20: No. 1, Kullan murunen1:36Finnish Works for Violin and Orchestra
2026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:01:49
1Concert Fantasy, op. 10412:322Näky (“Vision”)3:553Violin Concerto no. 4: I. Allegro4:334Violin Concerto no. 4: II. Largo5:215Violin Concerto no. 4: III. Allegro giosamente6:386Legenda for Violin and Orchestra6:427Notturno for Violin and Orchestra8:338Concertino per violino ed orchestra: I. Largamente4:059Concertino per violino ed orchestra: II. Andante3:3010Concertino per violino ed orchestra: III. Allegro ritmico3:2811Romance from the film “Omena putoaa” (“The Apple Falls”)2:32
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Oskar Merikannon kauneimmatSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 56:271Kesäillan valssi, op. 13:50 2Valse lente2:54 3Romanssi1:41 4Mä oksalla ylimmällä, op. 266:37 5Annina2:31 6Pai, pai paitaressu, op. 2 no. 12:20 7Itkevä huilu, op. 52 no. 42:18 8Merellä, op. 47 no. 43:56 9Tuulan tei1:10 10Miss' soutaen tuulessa, op. 90 no. 12:08 11Soi vienosti murheeni soitto, op. 36 no. 32:11 12Lastentaru takkavalkealla, op. 82 no. 32:28 13Idylli, op. 73 no. 14:08 14Scherzo, op. 6 no. 42:04 15Oi muistatko vielä sen virren, op. 52 no. 34:07 16Laatokka, op. 83 no. 13:12 17Miksi laulan, op. 20 no. 21:11 18Myrskylintu, op. 30 no. 43:05 19Jo valkenee kaukainen ranta3:00 20Kesäillan idylli, op. 16 no. 21:36 | Compilation | 1993 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Oskar Merikanto head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 8 | 81.1th |
| Studio albums | 7 | 87.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 10 | 86.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -66 | 5.9th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oskar_Merikanto.gifaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/572bc3e8-d9e5-4a87-b372-480851ec186fdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/572bc3e8-d9e5-4a87-b372-480851ec186fcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455630genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q455630seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Merikantobiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Merikanto
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q455630 · MusicBrainz: 572bc3e8-d9e5-4a87-b372-480851ec186f
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