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):
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)
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).
