Album: Einojuhani Rautavaara, The 8 Symphonies (Ondine)

Andy Gill
Friday 13 March 2009 01:00 GMT
Comments

"If an artist is not a Modernist when he is young, he has no heart," claimed Einojuhani Rautavaara, the greatest Finnish symphonist since Sibelius. "And if he is a Modernist when he is old, he has no brain."

His eight symphonies reflect this, with serialist techniques evident in the severe 4th Symphony and the more Romantically inclined 3rd, while later works such as the 7th "Angel Of Light" and 8th "The Journey" reflect the more mystical leanings which came to dominate his thinking.

Listen to a section of Angel of Light

The influence of Copland is also discernible in the 7th with the chords and harmonies reflecting an austere north European mysticism.

Pick of the album:'Angel Of Light', 'The Journey'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in