Kilpinen, Yrjö (1892–1959)

Finnish composer. He had a few lessons in theory at the Helsinki Conservatory and in Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, but was otherwise self-taught. Like Sibelius, he was enabled by a government grant to devote himself to composition. He was one of the finest song composers of the 20th century, and wrote over 500 songs to Finnish, Swedish, and German texts.

Works cello sonata, viola da gamba sonata; piano sonatas; over 500 songs on Finnish, Swedish, and German poems.