The Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki is releasing the first complete biography of Finnish composer Erkki Melartin, best known for the beloved “Sleeping Beauty Wedding March.” The book, Niin nuori, niin palava – Erkki Melartinin elämä, työ ja musiikki, by researcher Tuire Ranta-Meyer, will be published on 22 August 2025 to mark the 150th anniversary of Melartin’s birth.
Based on nearly four decades of research, the biography presents Melartin as a multifaceted figure in Finnish music history — a prolific composer, educator, and cultural leader. He created six symphonies, operas, ballets, orchestral works, piano music, and songs, while serving as Rector of the Sibelius Academy for 25 years.
The work also reveals the personal challenges that shaped his life, including loneliness, health issues, and the need to hide his homosexuality due to societal attitudes of his time. Melartin is portrayed as a visionary who embraced artistic innovation, supported students regardless of background, and championed women in composition more than a century ago.
The biography will be available through the University of the Arts Helsinki online store and Ostinato.
Source: University of the Arts Helsinki
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