SELIM PALMGREN (1878⁠–⁠1951)

COMPLETE PIANO WORKS • 1

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JOUNI SOMERO

‘I consider Selim Palmgren not only as Finland’s greatest piano composer, but also the most remarkable of all the Nordic countries. It feels very natural to release the first volume of this project now in 2021, 70 years after his death. Although Palmgren was also a popular composer outside of the Nordic countries during his lifetime, his piano works, which amount to at least 374 pieces, have astonishingly been recorded very little. Vol. 1 mainly consists of Palmgren’s early works, and the Piano Sonata, Op. 11 (tracks 25⁠–⁠27) is a particular favourite of mine. This sonata with an almost orchestral texture is a distant relative of Grieg’s Sonata Op. 7 but also contains much of the original voice of the young Palmgren.’ – Jouni Somero