Piano
SKU:
FG.55011-602-3
Kaksi pianokappaletta
- Pensamientos 1974 &
Toccata-fantasia.
Composed by Ann-Elise
Hannikainen. Fennica
Gehrman #55011-602-3.
Published by Fennica
Gehrman (FG.55011-602-3).
ISBN
9790550116023.
Ann-
Elise Hannikainen
(1946-2012) was born in
Hanko, Southern Finland,
but lived mainly abroad,
her father working as
diplomat. Her
grandfather's father was
P.J. Hannikainen, the
head of a prominent
Finnish musical family.
Ann-Elise's attraction to
music was first found at
age of five, when her
family, then living in
Warsaw, bought a grand
piano. Hannikainen
started to study piano
playing at the Sibelius
Academy in 1967, but
rheumatoid arthritis
prevented her from
pursuing a carrier as a
concert pianist. In 1972
she moved to Madrid and
started to study
composition with Ernesto
Halffter Ercriche, a
student of Manuel de
Falla. Hannikainen
advanced quickly in her
career, and her piano
concerto was premiered in
Helsinki Festival in
1976. Her composing style
evolved into luminous
melodies, free atonal
harmonies and
improvisatory forms.
Hannikainen wrote the two
piano pieces Pensamientos
1974 (1974) and
Toccata-fantasia (1975)
in El Escorial. The first
one carries features
typical for piano writing
of the Late Romantic,
whereas the playful and
improvisatory
Toccata-fantasia gives a
neoclassical
impression.