Two Pieces for Piano

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, andher piano concerto was premiered in Helsinki Festival in 1976. Her composing style evolved into luminous melodies, free atonal harmonies and improvisatory forms.