Juhani Nuorvala’s (b. 1961) Variationes ex ”Bene quondam” for string orchestra was commissioned by the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in 2017. Collaboration with the musicians led to experiments with microtonality. The work is based on a late medieval song from the Finnish collection Piae cantiones (Pious songs). Study score 55011-618-4, € 19,80
Nuorvala has been described as an “electro-acoustic urban minimalist”, he seeks inspiration from widely varied sources. With the enthusiasm of an explorer, he has delved into microtonality, French spectral music, techno and rock. Boost (2009) celebrates all these features. 55011-629-0, € 14,50
Sigurd Snåre (1897–1996) worked especially among the Finnish-Swedish choirs as a conductor and composer. His song suite in five parts is set to poems by Edith Södergran 55016-489-5, € 6,90
The corrected and updated edition of the piano reduction of the opera Viimeiset kiusaukset (1973–75) is made by Pekka Asikainen (who has worked with it as a répétiteur for decades) and the conductor Ulf Söderblom. The publication marks the 100th anniversary of Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996), celebrated in 2021. 55011-617-7, € 42,60
Aarre Merikanto (1893–1958) composed his string sextet in 1932 for the competition of Library of Congress, Washington. The work was however not accepted because it was sent without the performance material, after which Merikanto cut out many segments. In 1993 Paavo Heininen completed the 22-minute work. Score & parts 55011-528-6, € 62,00
These three songs (2015) capture little moments of childhood wonder. Lilian Moore (1909–2004) was a poet and editor who helped makíng children’s books more affordable and worked to combat racial stereotypes in children’s literature. 55011-569-9, € 4,80
Kalevi Aho composed the second violin concerto in 2015 for the Finnish violinist Elina Vähälä. The 32-minute concerto is a large-scale virtuoso work dominated by the soloist. The piano reduction is made by Kari Vehmanen. Solo part & piano reduction 55011-615-3, € 43,50
Tauno Pylkkänen (1918–1980) was a prolific opera composer, his breakthrough being the opera Mare and his son (1943). Among the 10 operas he wrote orchestral music and songs. Lintu (Fågeln / The Bird) op. 1/1, poem by Einari Vuorela. 55016-484-0, € 5,90 Buy nowRannalla (On the Shore) op. 25a/6, poem by Saima Harmaja. 55016-482-6, €…
The first five symphonies by Erkki Melartin (1875–1937) represent the Finnish National Romantic music heritage based on Austo-German orchestral tradition. Melartin considered the Symphony No. 3 as his “testament” and a “description of a battle towards enjoying life”. The new Melartin symphonies editions of are born as a project of Erkki Melartin Society with the…
The music of Kai Nieminen does not conform to any “isms”. He remarks: “I feel like I am a painter in music, who having seen or experienced something attempts to give that something a shape in music.” The flute concerto Palomar was written for Patrick Gallois and premiered 2001 in Milan, Italy. Study score 55009-637-0,…
