Heikki Suolahti


Heikki Theodor Suolahti was a Finnish composer.
Suolahti was born and died in Helsinki, where he studied under Arvo Laitinen in Helsinki from 1929 until his death. In 1935, he composed Sinfonia piccola, which was first performed in February 1938 under Tauno Hannikainen. Hannikainen also orchestrated some of Suolahti's songs. Sinfonia piccola was published in the United States in 1959. When the composer died at the age of 16, none of his works had been performed publicly yet. He left the opera Pärttylin and a few other works unfinished.
Suolahti, a huge admirer of Richard Wagner, was promised a trip to the Bayreuth Festival in the summer of 1937, but he died soon after Christmas 1936.
Jean Sibelius was fascinated with Sinfonia piccola and praised it to Suolahti's mother after the composer's untimely death.

Works

The following works are largely unpublished, but are archived at the Helsinki University Library.

Orchestral

Symphony no.1 in b minor Prélude pour petit orchestre dédié à mon père, Op.6Fantasia-Impromptu, Op.9 Hades, Op.10 Symphonic poem

Concerto

Piano concerto no.1, Op.15

Chamber music

String Quartet String Quartet No.1, Op.4 String Quartet No.2, Op.8
  • ''Piano Quintet''

Violin and piano

Valsette, Op.7, no.3Novelette, Op.7Pastorale Three small pieces, Op.24 ''Prélude, sérénade, romanceFantasiaSerenade''

Piano

Two small pieces, Op.5, no.1-2 ''Rêverie, Sur l'OndeRomanceSonatine and Rondo''

Voice

Hyökyaalto for voice, piano and orchestra Unten kalastaja for voice, piano and orchestra Kesäyössä for voice, piano and orchestra Endymion for voice and piano Huomisehtoo for voice and piano

Opera

  • ''Pärttylin yö''