MERIKANTO, OSKAR
(1868–1924)> COMPOSER · PIANIST · ORGANIST
MERIKANTO, OSKAR (Aug. 5, 1868, Helsinki–Feb. 17, 1924, Oitti), composer, pianist, organist, widely known and beloved in Finland for his melodic folklike songs. His son, Aarre Merikanto (see MERIKANTO, AARRE), was also a composer. From the age of nine, Merikanto was the protégé of Lauri Hämäläinen, organist at the Old Church in Helsinki. Hämäläinen gave him free tuition, collected money for a piano for him, and eventually made him his assistant. Merikanto made his debut with two concerts in…