Kuusisto, Taneli
Kuusisto, Taneli
KuusistO, Taneli, Finnish organist and composer, father of Ilkka Taneli Kuusisto; b. Helsinki, June 19, 1905; d. there, March 30, 1988. He studied at the Helsinki Inst. of Church Music (graduated, 1931), in Paris, and in Leipzig with J.N. David. He centered his career on Helsinki. He was asst. conductor of the Finnish Radio (1936–42) and chorus director of the Finnish National Opera (1942—46), and also organist of Töölö (1942–63). He taught at the Sibelius Academy (1948–57), serving as head of its church music dept. (1955–57) as well as vice-director (1956–59) and director (1959–71). He was a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music.
Works
orch.:Pastorale (1934); Nocturne for Cello and Orch. (1936); Laatokka (Lake Ladoga), symphonic legend (1944); Toccata (1953). chamber: Sonatina for String Quartet (1927); Sonatina di Natale for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1936); Trio for Flute, Viola, and Piano (1945); keyboard pieces. vocal:Psalm 40 for Baritone, Chorus, Organ, and Strings (1939); Jouluyö (Christmas Night) for Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1941); Kangastu-a (Mirages) for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1945); Saimoon helmi (The Pearl of Saimaa), cantata (1949); sacred music
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire