Oskar Merikanto’s Barcarolle is a piece based on the songs sung by Venetian gondoliers. The barcarolle is filled with aquatic imagery, where the drips, the drops, and the trilling ripples are all skillfully painted using the percussive tones on the piano. These attributes come in addition to the warm texture and splendidly wrought melodies.

Merikanto was born with the surname Kanto, but later changed it to the Swedish-sounding Mattsson and then to the Finnish Merikanto. Merikanto studied in Leipzig under many teachers, including Carl Reinecke. Much of the composer’s style has origins in Finnish folk music, and his melodies, quite fittingly, show influence from Italian-style bel canto singing. Oskar had a son named Aarre, who was also a composer.


Catalogue: Op. 65
Performer: Jean Dubé on piano

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