Oskar Merikanto: Songs – Waltteri Torikka

Merikanto, (Frans) Oskar (1868–1924)

Pai, pai paitaressu (Bye Bye My Sweet Swaddled Baby)

Itkevä huilu, Op. 52 No. 4

Illansuussa

Soi vienosti murheeni soitto

Hyvästi!

Metsäkyyhkyset (The Wood-doves)

Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu (Like the Dying Embers Grow Dark)

Vanha mummo (Old woman), Op. 2 No. 2

Onneton (Unhappy), Op. 2 No. 3

Kevätlinnuille etelässä (To the Spring Birds in the South)

Merellä

Yö (Night), Op. 110 No. 1

Syyslaulu (Autumn song), Op. 110 No. 2

Mummo (Nana), Op. 110 No. 3

Elämälle

Rukous (Ave Maria) (Prayer)

Laulaja taivaan porteilla (A singer at the gate of Heaven), Op. 74 No. 2

Käy kirkkomaata illoin vanhat mummot (In the churchyard at eventide), Op. 74 No. 3

Hyvää yötä

Suvi-illan vieno tuuli

Laatokka

Reppurin laulu (Song of the pedlar), Op. 14 No. 10

Balladi

Nocturne

Marjatan kehtolaulu (Marjatta’s lullaby), OM159

Aurinko laski (The sun set), Op. 113 No. 1

Iltakellot

Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren

Kullan murunen (You Are a Nugget of Gold)

During his lifetime, Oskar Merikanto (1868–1924) was the most popular composer in Finnish homes. Even today, especially at weddings and funerals, his pieces are widely heard and performed. Merikanto was an excellent pianist and organist and possessed a particular gift for writing memorable melodies. Enjoying great popularity, he wrote over 200 songs, a number of duets, several choral works and nearly 200 piano works. To mark the 100th anniversary of Merikanto’s death in 2024, Waltteri Torikka has recorded 29 of his songs. Torikka topped the Finnish pop charts for 3 weeks in 2018, performs frequently in European opera festivals and is a frequent visitor on Finland’s top television programmes.