Selim Palmgren ‒ Nocturne in Three Scenes, Op.72

Selim Palmgren (1878 - 1951), Nocturne in Three Scenes, Op.72 (1922) Performed by Risto Lauriala 00:00 - No. 1 Tähdet tuikkivat/Stjärnorna tindra (Stars twinkling, D flat major) 02:58 - No. 2 Yön laulu/Nattens sang (Song of the night, F minor) 05:58 - No. 3 Sarastus/Gryning (Twilight, E flat major) Selim Palmgren was the first Finnish composer after Sibelius to gain an international reputation. His fame rested on his five piano concertos, the second of which, "The Stream", is frequently performed, even today. His piano miniatures have also remained favourites with Finnish audiences. Palmgren performed abroad extensively, but not even his five-year tenure as Professor of Composition at the Easstman School of music in Rochester from 1921 to 1926 eroded the homely natinoal spirit of his music. This output is grounded in a lyrical descriptive idiom stemming from late Romanticism, Impressionism and the new French school. Nocturne in three scenes Op. 72 1922 consists of three closely liknked sections, as the title states. Sparkling stars relies on glimmering descant figures for its effect, underpinned by a tranquil melody in the left hand. Song of the night is a surprisingly passionate romantic scene full of uneasy doubt. Dawn transcends human worries and turns into a whole-tone study of shades of light, although Palmgren always rounds out his harmonies with familiar chords.