SELIM PALMGREN (1878–1951)
COMPLETE PIANO WORKS • 4
JOUNI SOMERO
‘Composer Selim Palmgren made a remarkable contribution to Nordic piano literature with his nearly 400 surviving piano works which include both large-scale works as well as delightful miniatures. This historic project to record all of Palmgren’s piano works has now reached its fourth volume. Nearly all of the pieces included in this volume are world première recordings, a fact indicating the uniqueness and significance of the project.
This new volume is my first recording together with sound engineer Heikki Savolainen after Jouko Ahera, with whom I recorded the Volumes 1–3 as well as over 50 other recordings, retired from professional life. Vol. 4 contains several masterpieces, including Une nocturne en trois scenes, Op. 72 from 1921. A real rare gem is Valse d’amour SP325 – this is a work that has never been published until now. Op. 81 (‘Triptych’) and Op. 82 (‘Three Fantasies’) form together a very beautiful combination but are now recorded here for the first time.’ – Jouni Somero
