The Long LineThe Long Line Explore Nine Centuries of Music Usko Meriläinen

Usko Meriläinen

Finnish composer

Usko Aatos Meriläinen (27 January 1930 – 12 November 2004) was a Finnish composer. He was born in Tampere.

Usko Meriläinen studied orchestral conducting with Leo Funtek and composition with Aarre Merikanto at the Sibelius Academy. Meriläinen conducted the Finnish Opera Choir from 1954 to1956, the Kuopio City Orchestra from 1956 to 1957, and the Tampere Workers' Theater Orchestra from 1957 to 1961. He was chairman of the Finnish Composers' Association from 1981 to 1992 and served as artistic advisor of the Tampere Biennale.

In 1954 his Partita for Brass won second prize in the Thor Johnson Brass Composition competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. Meriläinen won an award for Jussi's film Private Area in 1963. He was also awarded the Pro Finlandia Prize in 1987.

Meriläinen was married to choreographer Ruth Matso, who choreographed the premiere of his ballet Arius. Their daughter is actress Lena Meriläinen, and their son is producer Ari Meriläinen, who is the father of writer and politician Rosa Meriläinen.

He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.

Works

The Long LineThe Long Line
  • Alasin
  • Concerto for Double Bass and Percussion
  • Concerto for Double Bass and Percussion: I. Introduzione: Lento - Liberamente
  • Concerto for Double Bass and Percussion: II. Lento assai
  • Concerto for Double Bass and Percussion: III. Vivace, ritmico
  • Eros & Psykhe
  • Huilu – veden peili
  • Kesäkonsertto "Geasseija niehku"
  • Ku-gu-ku
  • Mouvements circulaires en douceur
  • Oratorio Picassolle
  • Papillons
  • Papillons: I. Mutatio mascula
  • Papillons: II. Mutatio feminea
  • Piano Concerto no. 2
  • Piano Sonata no. 2
  • Piano Sonata no. 2: I. A tempo variable lento-mosso
  • Piano Sonata no. 2: II. Lento
  • Piano Sonata no. 2: III. Presto
  • Piano Sonata no. 4 "Epyllion II"
  • Piano Sonata no. 4 "Epyllion II": I. Moderato: a ritmo liberon
  • Piano Sonata no. 4 "Epyllion II": II. Vivace
  • Piano Sonata no. 4 "Epyllion II": III. Lento
  • Piano Sonata no. 4 "Epyllion II": IV. Presto
  • Piano Sonata no. 5
  • String Quartet no. 1
  • String Quartet no. 1: I. Moderato
  • String Quartet no. 1: II. Vivace
  • String Quartet no. 1: III. Allegro deciso
  • String Quartet no. 2 "Kyma"
  • String quartet no. 3
  • Symphony no. 3
  • Symphony no. 3: I. Andante
  • Symphony no. 3: II. Lento assai
  • Symphony no. 3: III. Allegro giocoso
  • Symphony no. 3: IV. Lento assai
  • Unes
  • Visions and Whispers for Flute and Orchestra
  • Zimbal