Selim Palmgren

Updated on Oct 08, 2024

Edit

Comment

Name Selim Palmgren		Role Composer

Died December 13, 1951, Helsinki, Finland Books Kevatyo, Op. 27, No. 4: Mainacht (May Night) Albums Piano Music, Finnish Orchestral Classics Similar People Leevi Madetoja, Heino Kaski, Erkki Melartin, Armas Jarnefelt, Einojuhani Rautavaara

Selim palmgren snowflakes op 57

Selim Gustaf Adolf Palmgren (16 February 1878, Pori – 13 December 1951, Helsinki), dubbed "The Finnish Chopin", was a Finnish composer, pianist, and conductor. Palmgren was born in Pori, Finland, February 16, 1878. He studied at the Conservatory in Helsinki from 1895 to 1899, then continued his piano studies in Berlin with Ansorge, Berger and Busoni. He conducted choral and orchestral societies in his own country and made several very successful concert tours as a pianist in the principal cities of Finland and Scandinavia, appearing also as a visiting conductor. In 1921, he went to the United States, where he taught composition at the Eastman School of Music, later returning to Finland.

He wrote music in larger forms such as Piano Concertos, a Sonata in D minor, symphonic works, and operas. It was in his shorter piano pieces, and his songs, however – as an inimitable miniaturist – that he achieved his best. He knew how to present a mood or a picture with the minimum of means and the maximum of effect. His "May Night" is a little masterpiece of impressionism, his "Guilty Conscience" (in "Finnish Rhythms") an amazing study in musical psychology. The "Bird-Song" and "Refrain de Berceau," (Cradle Song) played everywhere by Benno Moiseiwitsch with such marked success, accomplish wonders in concentrated characterization. His songs breathe the melancholy of the North, but also its austere beauty and grandeur.

His piece Night in May, No.4 from Toukokuu, Op.27, Was on the ABRSM Grade 7 Piano 2015-2016 syllabus.

An incomplete works list (elaborated by Joel Valkila):

Selim palmgren raindrops op 54

Works Listed by Opus Number

Op. 1 – Prelude, Illusion, & Etude and Valse-Caprice for Piano

Op. 2(a) – Two Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 2(b) – 3 Pieces for Piano

Op. 3 – Suite for Piano

Op. 4 – Drei Klavierstucke

Op. 5 – Two Songs

Op. 6 – Fantasie for Piano

Op. 7 – Den Unge Piges Viser, Song Cycle for Voice & Piano

Op. 8(a) – Lyric Intermezzo, a Suite for Piano

Op. 8(b) – Pieces for Violin and Piano

Op. 9 – En Route, Concert Study for Piano

Op. 10 – Impromptu and Scherzo for Piano

Op. 11 – Piano Sonata in D minor

Op. 12 – Songs

Op. 13 – Piano Concerto No.1 in g minor (1904)

Op. 14 – Barcarole for Piano

Op. 15 – Songs

Op. 16(_) – Menuet in Folk-Style (Menuett i folkton) for Piano

Op. 16(a) – 4 Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 16(b) – 4 Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 17 – 24 Preludes for Piano

Op. 18 – Ballad with Theme and Variations for Piano

Op. 19 – Songs

Op. 20 – Songs

Op. 21 – Incidental Music, "Cinderella" (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 22 – Finnish Lyrics, 12 Pieces for Piano

Op. 23 – Organ Pieces (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 24 – Aus Finnland, 4 Symphonic Pieces for Orchestra

Op. 25 – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 26 – 3 Humoresques for Piano

Op. 27 – 7 Klavierstucke, "Spring"

Op. 28 – 6 Lyric Pieces for Piano

Op. 29 – "Contrasts" for piano

Op. 30 – Opera "Daniel Hjort"

Op. 31 – Finnish Rhythms, 5 Sketches for Piano

Op. 32 – 3 Klavierstucke

Op. 33 – Piano Concerto No.2 ("Der Fluss" or "The River") (1913)

Op. 34(a) – 2 Kleine Balletszenen for Piano

Op. 34(b) – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 35 – Klavierskizzen for Piano

Op. 36 – The Masquerade for Two Pianos

Op. 37(a) – Mephistowaltzer

Op. 37(b)- Song 'Nocturne'

Op. 38 – Dunkelrote Rosen fur eine Singstimme und Klavier

Op. 39 – Nordischer Sommer – 5 Piano Pieces

Op. 40 – "Die Stadt" for Voice and Orchestra (reference: T. Tommila) (See op 41!)

Op. 41 – (a) Piano Concerto No.3 ("Metamorphoses") (1916) / (b) Song 'Die Stadt' for Voice and Orchestra (1914)(See Op 40!)

Op. 42 – Ballade "Torpflickan" for Solo Voices, Choir and Orchestra (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 43 – 4 Morceaux for Violin & Piano

Op. 44 – Songs

Op. 45 – 3 Piano Pieces

Op. 46 – Exotisk Marsch for Piano

Op. 47 – "Spring", 6 Piano Pieces

Op. 48 – 2 Songs for Voice & Piano

Op. 49(a) – Piano Pieces ('Langtansvals och andra klaverstycken')

Op. 49(b) – Rondo a Capriccio for Piano (Same as Op. 53; reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 50 – A Pastoral in 3 Scenes, Suite for Piano / Orchestra

Op. 51 – Light and Shade – 6 Piano Pieces ('Ljus och skugga')

Op. 52 – Three Songs

Op. 53 – Rondo a capriccio for Piano (reference: T. Tommila) – Same as Op. 49b!

Op. 54 – 3 Pianostycken

Op. 55 – Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 56 – Three Songs

Op. 57 – Piano Pieces

Op. 58(a) – Incidental Music from the Play "Juhana Herttua" (Op 62?)

Op. 58(b) – Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 59(a) – 'Julkvallen' (Christmas Eve) for Choir and Orchestra

Op. 59(b) – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 60 – Three Songs

Op. 61 – 'Kaunehin Maa' ("The Most Beautiful Land") – for Male Choir and Brass

Op. 62 – Incidental Music from the Play "Juhana Herttua"

Op. 63 – Four Impromptus for Piano

Op. 64(a) – Piano Pieces "Klanger och Rytmer"

Op. 64(b) – "Ivy" and "Bagpipes" for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 65 – Intermezzo valsant for Piano

Op. 66 – Deux impromptus for Piano

Op. 67(a) – Hakkapeliittojen marssi ("March of the Finnish Soldiers in the 30 Years' War")(reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 67(b) – 6 Morceaux for Piano

Op. 68 – Incidental Music (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 69 – Finnish Folk Tunes for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 70(a) – Two Songs

Op. 70(b) – Graciosa rytmer for Piano ("Graceful Rhythms")(reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 71 – Three Piano Pieces

Op. 72(a) – Nocturne in 3 Scenes for Piano

Op. 72(b) – 12 Nordic Folk Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 73 – Three Piano Pieces

Op. 74 – 3 Morceaux for Piano

Op. 75 – Eight Piano Pieces

Op. 76 – Six Piano Pieces

Op. 77 – 24 Etudes for Piano

Op. 78 – Pieces for Violin & Piano

Op. 79 – Ten Piano Pieces

Op. 80 – Two Pieces for Cello and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 81 – Piano Pieces "Triptych"

Op. 82 – 3 Fantasier for Piano

Op. 83 – Three Piano Pieces

Op. 84 – Piano Pieces (Preludes)

Op. 85 – Piano Concerto No.4 ("April") (1928)

Op. 86 – Cantata "For Fatherland's Freedom"

Op. 87 – New Piano Sketches

Op. 88 – 4 Piano Pieces

Op. 89 – Cantata for the 700th Anniversary of the City of Turku (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 90 – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 91 – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 92 – Orchestral Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 93(a) – Sonatine for Piano

Op. 93(b) – Festpraludium for Piano

Op. 94 – Four Songs

Op. 95 – Orchestral Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 96 – "Music for a Comedy Play" for Orchestra (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 97 – Orchestral Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 98 – (a) 'Vanhojen Messujen Aikaan' ("At the Times of the Ancient Masses") for Male Choir and Orchestra, (b) "Song of the Quild" for Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 99 – Piano Concerto No.5 (1940)

Op. 100 – Cantata[?] 'Nouskohon Sukuni Suuri' ("Let My Great Nation Rise")

Op. 101 – Songs (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 102 – Sun & Clouds, 12 Pieces for Piano

Op. 103(a) – Jouluaatto ("Christmas Morning") for Chorus and Orchestra (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 103(b) – Cantata for the 500th anniversary of the town of Naantali

Op. 104 – Concert-Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra

Op. 105 – 'Ballet Scenes', Six Pieces for Piano

Op. 106 – Songs

Op. 107 – Songs

Op. 108 – Ballade for Orchestra (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 109 – Piano Suite "Diary Sheets" (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 110 – Song (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 111 – Autobiography (in Finnish)

Op. 112 – Cantata "Vainamoinen ja karhunkaato" (reference: T. Tommila)

Op. 113 – Sonatine for Piano

Op. 114 – Op 114/1 "a Gaspar Cassado" / "Violoncello – Repertoire de Gaspar Cassado" for Cello and Piano / Op 114/2 In tempo di minuetto (reference: T. Tommila)

Works listed without a known Opus number, in alphabetic order

Op posth. – Aftonpsalm for Chorus (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Allegretto for Piano (1921) (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Allhelgonenatt for Male Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Anna-mi (Song)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Arabeske (1946) for Piano

Op posth. – Arabeski (1896) for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Asparnas susning (Song)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Aurinkokaupunki for Chorus (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Bagatelle for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Berceuse for Piano

Op posth. – Berceuse (1895) for Piano

Op posth. – Berceuse (1917) for Violin and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Bjorkarna dar hemma for Male Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Bort allt vad oro gor for Male Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Bottniska hav (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Brudefarden (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Cavatina for Violin and Piano (lost?)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Chanson elegiaque for Violin and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Chant d'automne (1917) for Cello and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Clarinet Concerto (unfinished)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Con sordino for Piano

Op posth. – Concert-Etude ("Konsertetude")(1906)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Country dance / Musette / The Bagpipe for Piano (1922)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Cry for Help (1927) for Chorus (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Dag efter dag for Voice and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Darthulas gravsang for Male Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'De Fallna' ("The Fallen Ones"), Song (1919)

Op posth. – De heliga anglar for Chorus (1933)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – De vita scholastica for Voice and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Den langa dagen for Voice and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Den overgivna for Voice and Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'Drommen' ("Dream") for Choir (1898)

Op posth. – Dromvisa for Piano (1921)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'En Idyll' for Choir

Op posth. – Ensimmainen perhonen ("The First Butterfly") for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Entre'acte valsant for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'Erotus mielilla' ("Thinking of the Depart") for Choir (1900)

Op posth. – Etude for Piano (1896)("unfinished")(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Etude ("Gnistor") for Piano

Op posth. – Etude de Concert for Piano (c.1900)

Op posth. – Finnish Caprice for Piano (1922)(reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'Helsinki Oldboys Regement' March for Piano

Op posth. – Intermezzo (1895) for Piano

Op posth. – Intermezzo Marziale for Orchestra (arrangement of Op.47 No.4?)

Op posth. – 'Keijukaiset' ("Fairies") for Piano

Op posth. – 'Kevatauerta' for Piano

Op posth. – 'Lullaby for Wounded Hearts' for Orchestra (orchestral adaption from a piano piece in Op 81?)

Op posth. – Musette for Orchestra

Op posth. – Overture for Piano (1934) – same as Op 93b! (Re-published as a "posthumous" work in 1982)

Op posth. – 'Pieni legenda' ("A Small Legend")(1895) for Piano

Op posth. – Prelude funebre for Piano

Op posth. – Preludietto for Piano

Op posth. – Presto for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Romance for Violin and Piano (1917)

Op posth. – Scherzino (1894) for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Serenad for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – 'Solsken genom tarar' ("Sunshine Through the Tears")(1946) for Piano

Op posth. – 'Spinnrocken' for Piano

Op posth. – 'Syysprologi' ("An Autumnal Prologue") for Piano

Op posth. – Titania for Male Choir (reference: T. Tommila)

Op posth. – Ungarischer Tanz for Piano

Op posth. – Valkokaarti ("The White Guard") for Vocal and Piano

Op posth. – 'Valssi lansisuomalaiseen tapaan' ("Waltz in a Western Finnish Style") for Piano

Without Opus – Aria (1904) for Piano (reference: T. Tommila)

Without Opus – Berceuse for Piano (by 1919)

Without Opus – Finnische kabinettstucke (7 Piano Pieces) (by 1923)

Without Opus – Gavotte and Musette for Piano (by 1919)

Without Opus – 'Grave of Chopin for Piano' and Orchestra

Without Opus – Intermezzo for left hand only (1906)

Without Opus – Northern Folk Songs

Without Opus – Romance for Violin and Piano (1917)

Without Opus – Scherzo (1893) for Piano

Without Opus – Finnish Folk Songs for Piano (possibly Op.69?)

Without Opus – 'Varbrackarnas brus' ("Russtles of Spring") for Piano

According to a biography on a June 1926 Gramaphone article, Palmgren had two operas at that time, one produced (Daniel Hjort) and another one unproduced. As far as it is known, Palmgren never produced the other one.

A fully detailed works list (In Finnish) is under preparation by T. Tommila. Reference to his list is marked above with a reference mark in italics. Also, another fully detailed works list in preparation (in Finnish) can be found here: Preliminary List of Compositions by Selim Palmgren. It is a seemingly reliable source for more detailed information such as details about these works' whereabouts, and dates (most approximated). It also mentions several other works not mentioned in the above list (which are to be implanted later).

References

Selim Palmgren Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Selim palmgren snowflakes op 57

Contents

Selim palmgren raindrops op 54

Works Listed by Opus Number

Works listed without a known Opus number, in alphabetic order

References