Melartin, Erkki (Gustaf)

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Melartin, Erkki (Gustaf)

Melartin, Erkki (Gustaf), Finnish composer; b. Kakisalmi, Feb. 7, 1875; d. Pukinmaki, Feb. 14, 1937. He was a pupil of Wegelius at the Helsinki Music Inst. and of Robert Fuchs in Vienna. He taught theory at the Helsinki Music Inst. (1898; 1901–7), succeeding Wegelius as director in 1911, and remaining at this post until 1936. His compositions are marked by a lyrical strain, with thematic materials often drawn from Finnish folk songs.

Works

dramatic:Aino, opera (1907; Helsinki, Dec. 10, 1909); Sininen helmi, ballet (The Blue Pearl, 1930); also incidental music. orch.: 8 syms. (1902; 1904; 1906–07; 1912; 1916, Sinfonia brevis; 1924–25; 2 unfinished); 3 symphonic poems; 3 lyric suites; Violin Concerto; Serenade for Strings; Karjalaisia kuvia (Karelian Pictures). chamber: 4 string quartets; Quartet for 2 Trumpets, Trombone, and Horn; Quartet for 4 Horns; Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon; 2 violin sonatas; Sonata for Flute and Harp; piano pieces; violin works. vocal: Choruses and about 300 songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire