Einojuhani Rautavaara (b.1928)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2008

Childhood

20081006

To coincide with the eightieth birthday of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, Donald Macleod presents a survey of his life and music, with excerpts specially recorded for the programme by Rautavaara himself. He begins with a look at the formative experiences of Rautavaara's childhood.

Independence Fanfare

Aki Valimaki, Jouko Harjanne and Jorma Rautakoski (trumpets)

Valtteri Malmivirta (trombone)

Ondine, ODE 957-2, track 7

Shall I compare thee (3 Sonnets of Shakespeare)

Gabriel Suovanan (baritone)

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Leif Segerstam (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 1085-2, track 3

Cantus Arcticus - Concerto for Birds and Orchestra

Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra

Max Pommer (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 747-2, tracks 1-3

Prelude and Fugue (first of a set of two)

David Pereira (cello)

Ian Munro (piano)

Tall Poppies, TP156, track 1

A Requiem in Our Time

Brass Partout

Hermann Baumer (director)

BIS, BIS-CD-1054, tracks 1-4.

Donald Macleod explores the formative experiences of the Finnish composer's childhood.

2008

Studies Abroad

20081007

Donald Macleod charts Rautavaara's progress as he heads off to broaden his musical horizons in America and Europe, and winning first prize at the Cincinnati Composers Competition in 1954 opened up several opportunities for the young composer.

String Quartet No 1 (Presto)

Jean Sibelius Quartet

Ondine, ODE 909-2, track 5

Raise No Memorial (Five Sonnets to Orpheus, 1954-5)

Jyrki Korhonen (basso profundo)

Iikka Paananen (piano)

BIS, BIS-CD-1141, track 22

Symphony No 1

National Orchestra of Belgium

Mikko Franck (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 1064-5, tracks 1-3

The Baptism of Christ; The Holy Woman at the Sepulchre; Archangel Michael defeats the Antichrist (Icons)

Laura Mikkola (piano)

Naxos 8.554292, tracks 10-12

Ludus Verbalis

Lulea Chamber Choir

Einar Isacson (conductor)

BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 9

Love Song (The Lovers)

Gabriel Suovanen (baritone)

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Leif Segerstam (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 1085-2, track 9.

Donald Macleod charts Rautavaara's progress as he sets off to broaden his musical horizons

2008

Finland

20081008

The Finnish landscape is an influence that Rautavaara readily acknowledges in his music. Folk-tales originally gathered in the countryside were an integral part of national identity and, as a young boy, his father used to tell him tales from the Kalevala, Finland's folk-lore epic, as bedtime stories. Yet, when it came to music, Rautavaara initially steered clear of Finland's folklore. He felt that the Kalevala belonged to his forebear Sibelius rather than to a young composer, but later on, in works such as The First Runo for chamber choir, Rautavaara found the means to express his connection with his folk heritage.

Hallin Janne

Amici Cantus

Hannu Norjanen (conductor)

Finlandia, 3984-21444-2, CD 1 track 6

A Soldier's Mass

Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra

Clark Rundell (conductor)

Chandos CHAN10038, tracks 2-5

BBC Singers

Paul Brough (conductor)

BBC Recording

Polka

Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

Juha Kangas (conductor)

Ondine ODE 836-2

Thomas (excerpt from Act 3)

Anssi Hirvonen (tenor)

Hannu Sokka and Jaakko Hietikko (basses)

Sini Rautavaara (soprano)

Peter Lindroos (tenor)

Matti Pipponen (tenor)

Antti Suhonen (baritone)

Jorma Hynninen (baritone)

Choir of the Joensuu Music School

Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus

Joensuu City Orchestra

Pekka Haapasalo (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 704-2, disc 2, tracks 11-15

A Finnish Myth

Ondine, ODE 836-2, track 6.

2008

The Mystic

20081009

Religious and metaphysical subjects have been a continuing source of fascination for Rautavaara. The key to his belief lies not in a specific doctrine, but in the words of the German philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher that 'true religion is sense and taste for the infinite'. Another theme within Rautavaara's work stems from his belief in the existence of angels - but for him, the angel is not golden and cherubic and a rather more menacing figure as described by the German poet Rilke.

Kyrie (Lapsimessu, 1973)

Tapiola Children's Choir

Espoo Chamber Orchestra

Erkki and Paavo Pohjla (conductors)

BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 10

Hymnus

Pasi Pirinen (trumpet)

Seppa Murto (organ)

Ondine, ODE957-2, track 15

Troparion; Troparion of the Feast; Final Blessing (Vigilia)

Jyrki Korhonen (bass)

Topi Lehtipuu (tenor)

Pia Freund (soprano)

Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo-soprano)

Petteri Salomaa (baritone)

Finnish Radio Chamber Choir

Timo Nuoranne (conductor)

Ondine, ODE910-2, tracks 12-14

Symphony No 7 (Angel of Light)

Lahti Symphony Orchestra

Osmo Vanska (conductor)

BIS, BIS-CD-1038, tracks 1-4.

An exploration of the religious and metaphysical subjects that fascinated Rautavaara.

2008

05 LAST

The Creative Process

20081010

Donald Macleod concludes the survey of the life and works of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara with an exploration of some of his compositional techniques and the ideologies behind them. Borrowing a quote from Thomas Mann, Rautavaara sees compositions as having a 'sort of metaphysical mind of their own', with the composer's role being one of a mediator or perhaps a mid-wife. He says the music tells you where it wants to go and it is the composer's job to help the music live on its own terms.

Partita

Laura Mikkola (piano)

Naxos, 8.554292, tracks 20-22

Vincent (end of Act 1)

Matti Heinikari (tenor)

Sini Rautavaara (soprano)

Finnish National Opera Orchestra

Fuat Manchurov (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 750-2, track 7

Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (3rd mvt)

Marielle Nordmann (harp)

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Leif Segerstam (conductor)

Ondine, ODE 978-2, track 3

Sonata for Flutes and Guitar

Gunilla von Bahr (flutes)

Diego Blanco (guitar)

BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 3

Manhattan Trilogy

Ondine, ODE1090-5, tracks 4-7.

Donald Macleod explores Rautavaara's compositional techniques and ideologies behind them.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2008	01	Childhood	20081006	To coincide with the eightieth birthday of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, Donald Macleod presents a survey of his life and music, with excerpts specially recorded for the programme by Rautavaara himself. He begins with a look at the formative experiences of Rautavaara's childhood. Independence Fanfare Aki Valimaki, Jouko Harjanne and Jorma Rautakoski (trumpets) Valtteri Malmivirta (trombone) Ondine, ODE 957-2, track 7 Shall I compare thee (3 Sonnets of Shakespeare) Gabriel Suovanan (baritone) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Ondine, ODE 1085-2, track 3 Cantus Arcticus - Concerto for Birds and Orchestra Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra Max Pommer (conductor) Ondine, ODE 747-2, tracks 1-3 Prelude and Fugue (first of a set of two) David Pereira (cello) Ian Munro (piano) Tall Poppies, TP156, track 1 A Requiem in Our Time Brass Partout Hermann Baumer (director) BIS, BIS-CD-1054, tracks 1-4. Donald Macleod explores the formative experiences of the Finnish composer's childhood.
2008	02	Studies Abroad	20081007	Donald Macleod charts Rautavaara's progress as he heads off to broaden his musical horizons in America and Europe, and winning first prize at the Cincinnati Composers Competition in 1954 opened up several opportunities for the young composer. String Quartet No 1 (Presto) Jean Sibelius Quartet Ondine, ODE 909-2, track 5 Raise No Memorial (Five Sonnets to Orpheus, 1954-5) Jyrki Korhonen (basso profundo) Iikka Paananen (piano) BIS, BIS-CD-1141, track 22 Symphony No 1 National Orchestra of Belgium Mikko Franck (conductor) Ondine, ODE 1064-5, tracks 1-3 The Baptism of Christ; The Holy Woman at the Sepulchre; Archangel Michael defeats the Antichrist (Icons) Laura Mikkola (piano) Naxos 8.554292, tracks 10-12 Ludus Verbalis Lulea Chamber Choir Einar Isacson (conductor) BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 9 Love Song (The Lovers) Gabriel Suovanen (baritone) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Ondine, ODE 1085-2, track 9. Donald Macleod charts Rautavaara's progress as he sets off to broaden his musical horizons
2008	03	Finland	20081008	The Finnish landscape is an influence that Rautavaara readily acknowledges in his music. Folk-tales originally gathered in the countryside were an integral part of national identity and, as a young boy, his father used to tell him tales from the Kalevala, Finland's folk-lore epic, as bedtime stories. Yet, when it came to music, Rautavaara initially steered clear of Finland's folklore. He felt that the Kalevala belonged to his forebear Sibelius rather than to a young composer, but later on, in works such as The First Runo for chamber choir, Rautavaara found the means to express his connection with his folk heritage. Hallin Janne Amici Cantus Hannu Norjanen (conductor) Finlandia, 3984-21444-2, CD 1 track 6 A Soldier's Mass Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra Clark Rundell (conductor) Chandos CHAN10038, tracks 2-5 BBC Singers Paul Brough (conductor) BBC Recording Polka Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra Juha Kangas (conductor) Ondine ODE 836-2 Thomas (excerpt from Act 3) Anssi Hirvonen (tenor) Hannu Sokka and Jaakko Hietikko (basses) Sini Rautavaara (soprano) Peter Lindroos (tenor) Matti Pipponen (tenor) Antti Suhonen (baritone) Jorma Hynninen (baritone) Choir of the Joensuu Music School Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus Joensuu City Orchestra Pekka Haapasalo (conductor) Ondine, ODE 704-2, disc 2, tracks 11-15 A Finnish Myth Ondine, ODE 836-2, track 6.
2008	04	The Mystic	20081009	Religious and metaphysical subjects have been a continuing source of fascination for Rautavaara. The key to his belief lies not in a specific doctrine, but in the words of the German philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher that 'true religion is sense and taste for the infinite'. Another theme within Rautavaara's work stems from his belief in the existence of angels - but for him, the angel is not golden and cherubic and a rather more menacing figure as described by the German poet Rilke. Kyrie (Lapsimessu, 1973) Tapiola Children's Choir Espoo Chamber Orchestra Erkki and Paavo Pohjla (conductors) BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 10 Hymnus Pasi Pirinen (trumpet) Seppa Murto (organ) Ondine, ODE957-2, track 15 Troparion; Troparion of the Feast; Final Blessing (Vigilia) Jyrki Korhonen (bass) Topi Lehtipuu (tenor) Pia Freund (soprano) Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo-soprano) Petteri Salomaa (baritone) Finnish Radio Chamber Choir Timo Nuoranne (conductor) Ondine, ODE910-2, tracks 12-14 Symphony No 7 (Angel of Light) Lahti Symphony Orchestra Osmo Vanska (conductor) BIS, BIS-CD-1038, tracks 1-4. An exploration of the religious and metaphysical subjects that fascinated Rautavaara.
2008	05 LAST	The Creative Process	20081010	Donald Macleod concludes the survey of the life and works of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara with an exploration of some of his compositional techniques and the ideologies behind them. Borrowing a quote from Thomas Mann, Rautavaara sees compositions as having a 'sort of metaphysical mind of their own', with the composer's role being one of a mediator or perhaps a mid-wife. He says the music tells you where it wants to go and it is the composer's job to help the music live on its own terms. Partita Laura Mikkola (piano) Naxos, 8.554292, tracks 20-22 Vincent (end of Act 1) Matti Heinikari (tenor) Sini Rautavaara (soprano) Finnish National Opera Orchestra Fuat Manchurov (conductor) Ondine, ODE 750-2, track 7 Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (3rd mvt) Marielle Nordmann (harp) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Ondine, ODE 978-2, track 3 Sonata for Flutes and Guitar Gunilla von Bahr (flutes) Diego Blanco (guitar) BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 3 Manhattan Trilogy Ondine, ODE1090-5, tracks 4-7. Donald Macleod explores Rautavaara's compositional techniques and ideologies behind them.