Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2
by Aarre Merikanto
Description
The second piano concerto is the first of the Merikanto concertos in the more traditional, Neoclassical style he arrived at in the 1930s. True, it also has a Romantic dimension that is manifest most clearly in the influence of Rakhmaninov in the slow movement. The concerto is for the most part a musicianly piece flowing swiftly along and rewarding for the soloist to play. There is already a fleeting suggestion in the first movement of the Finnish national folk-dance rhythms that are to play an important part in the finale. In contrast to the bright and breezy outer movements is the slow movement constructed along the lines of a set of variations at times meditative, at others sentimental.
© Kimmo Korhonen, March 2000
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo)
Toinen pianokonsertto edustaa Merikannon konserttojen sarjassa ensimmäisenä sitä perinteisempää uusklassista tyyliä, johon hän päätyi 1930-luvulla. Tosin teoksessa on myös romanttinen ulottuvuutensa, joka ilmenee voimakkaimmin teoksen hitaan osan Rahmaninov-vaikutteissa. Pääosin konsertto on musikanttista, vuolaasti soljuvaa ja solistille kiitollista soitettavaa. Jo teoksen ensiosassa häivähtää ohimennen suomalaiskansallisia tanhurytmejä, jollaiset nousevat tärkeään rooliin teoksen finaalissa. Vastakohtana ääriosien raikkaalle eloisuudelle on muunnelmasarjan tapaan rakentuva, vuoroin mietiskelevä, vuoroin tunteikas hidas osa.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000
Instrumentation 2222 3220 10 0, str:8-8-6-4-4, pno solo [fl+pic, btrb.]
Instrument codes
Abbreviation | Instrument |
Woodwind | |
acl | alto clarinet |
afl | alto flute |
arec | alto recorder |
asax | alto saxophone |
barsax | baritone saxophone |
barhn | baritone horn |
bcl | bass clarinet |
bfl | bass flute |
bob | bass oboe |
bsax | bass saxophone |
bsn | bassoon |
cbsn | contrabassoon |
cl | clarinet |
ehn | English horn |
fl | flute |
hn | French horn |
ob | oboe |
pic | piccolo |
rec | recorder |
sax | saxophone |
srec | soprano recorder |
ssax | soprano saxophone |
trec | tenor recorder |
tsax | tenor saxophone |
Brass | |
ahn | alto horn |
atrb | altotrombone |
barhn | baritone horn |
btrb | bass trombone |
cornet | cornet |
euph | euphonium |
fhn | flugelhorn |
hn | French horn |
tba | tuuba |
thn | tenor horn |
trb | trombone |
trp | trumpet |
Percussion | |
dr | drums |
glock | glockenspiel |
mar | marimba |
perc | percussion |
timp | timpani |
vibr | vibraphone |
xyl | xylophone |
Strings | |
db | double bass |
gamba | viola da gamba |
str | strings |
vla | viola |
vlc | cello |
vln | violin |
Other | |
acc | accordion |
cel | celesta |
cemb | harpsichord |
chords | chords |
elbas | electric bass |
elg | electric guitar |
elorg | electric organ |
elpno | electric piano |
guit | guitar |
harm | harmonium |
hca | harmonica |
hp | harp |
instr | instrument |
kantele | kantele |
keyb | keyboard |
live electr | live electronics |
mand | mandolin |
mel | melody |
org | organ |
pno | piano |
synth | synthesizer |
tape | tape |
Vocal | |
alto | alto |
baryt | baritone |
basso | bass voice |
ch | choir |
chc | childrens choir |
chf | female choir |
chm | male choir |
chx | mixed choir |
cten | countertenor |
mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
sopr | soprano |
speaker | speaker |
ten | tenor |
voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
Symphony orchestra | |
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
Wind band | |
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
Big band | |
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
Additional codes | |
+ | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
/ | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
lib | ad libitum |
obl | obligato |
str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra
Premiere
Tapani Valsta, piano, orchestra, cond. Martti Similä, Sibelius Week, Helsinki (Finland), 12 Jun 1954
Movements 1.Tranquillo-Allegro con spirito, 2.Lento assai-Allegro assai.
PDF for promotional use Download
Archive number MF526
+ Add information