Oskar Merikanto (1868–1924) made an enormous contribution to music-making in Finland, and to organ music in particular, as teacher, virtuoso performer and authority on performance practice, reforming the approach to the organ in both church and concert- hall. It was thought that all of his organ music was known and recorded, but recent discoveries have added a number of previously unsuspected works to his catalogue: a striking concert fantasia, an early funeral march, some pedal studies, a vast series of chorale preludes – some of them beautifully crafted miniatures, others only aphoristic ideas – and an organ transcription of a piano piece by Mendelssohn. This release is timed to mark the centenary of his death, on 17 February 1924.
Jan Lehtola, organ of Tampere Cathedral, Finland
Listen To This Recording:
Fantasia chromatica, OM038 (1917?) (4:18)
Trauermarsch, OM279 (1888) (7:44)
Konzert-Etüden, OM119 (1908) (13:44)
I. Moderato energico (2:51)
II. Moderato (2:13)
III. Lento – Moderato con moto (2:09)
IV. Moderato (alla Barcarola) (3:58)
V. Allegretto (quasi veloce) (2:34)
100 Chorale Preludes, Op. 59 (1905) (37:58)
No. 7, C Major (1:59)
No. 17, G Major (0:42)
No. 18, G Major (0:35)
No. 19, G Major (1:09)
No. 20, G Major (0:59)
No. 22, E Minor (1:21)
No. 24, E Minor (0:41)
No. 25, E Minor (0:41)
No. 26, E Minor (0:36)
No. 28, D Minor (0:37)
No. 30, D Major (0:28)
No. 33, D Major (0:48)
No. 34, D Major (0:40)
No. 37, B-Flat Minor (0:34)
No. 38, B-Flat Minor (0:36)
No. 44, F-Sharp Minor (0:49)
No. 45, F-Sharp Minor (0:46)
No. 47, E Major (0:47)
No. 48, E Major (2:28)
No. 52, F Major (0:43)
No. 55, F Major (1:00)
No. 59, D Minor (0:37)
No. 61, D Minor (1:08)
No. 63, D Minor (1:32)
No. 65, B Major (0:34)
No. 67, B Major (0:51)
No. 68, B Major (1:03)
No. 69, B Major (1:09)
No. 73, G Minor (0:40)
No. 74, G Minor (0:38)
No. 75, G Minor (1:08)
No. 77, G Minor (1:25)
No. 79, E-Flat Major (1:13)
No. 83, E-Flat Major (1:03)
No. 85, E-Flat Major (0:48)
No. 87, C Minor (0:46)
No. 90, C Minor (1:30)
No. 91, A-Flat Major (0:56)
No. 94, A-Flat Major (0:44)
No. 95, A-Flat Major (1:14)
No. 96, F Minor (0:44)
No. 97, F Minor (1:21)
No. 98, F Minor (0:59)
No. 99, F Minor (1:09)
No. 100, F Minor (0:44)
Mendelssohn arr. Merikanto Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, Op. 35 No. 1 (1837) (10:21)
‘[Oskar Merikanto’s] organ music is pleasingly melodious and gracefully harmonic in character. […]
The majority of pieces on this CD, 45 altogether, are taken from his 100 Chorale Preludes, Op. 59 from 1905, and they are a prime example of this gift he had for simple yet lyrical melodies and rich harmonic detail. […]
As I’ve said many times before … all you pipe organ music enthusiasts out there who lament the fact that rarely is there something new or fresh to listen to well, here’s a chance to hear music rarely performed and/or recorded.’
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinal
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Lehtola’s playing is up to his usual stellar standards’
Classical Music Sentinal :
‘[Oskar Merikanto’s] organ music is pleasingly melodious and gracefully harmonic in character. […]
The majority of pieces on this CD, 45 altogether, are taken from his 100 Chorale Preludes, Op. 59 from 1905, and they are a prime example of this gift he had for simple yet lyrical melodies and rich harmonic detail. […]
As I’ve said many times before … all you pipe organ music enthusiasts out there who lament the fact that rarely is there something new or fresh to listen to well, here’s a chance to hear music rarely performed and/or recorded.’
—Jean-Yves Duperron, Classical Music Sentinal
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Lehtola’s playing is up to his usual stellar standards’
—David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare Magazine, Sept/Oct 2024