
Rautavaara, Einojuhani
Einojuhani Rautavaara (9. October 1928 – 27. July 2016) is internationally one of the best known and most frequently performed Finnish composers. He was by nature a romantic, even a mystic, as is often apparent from the titles of his works: for example Angels and Visitations for orchestra or his double-bass concerto Angel of Dusk. Despite Rautavaara’s label of “mysticism” he was a complex and contradictory figure whose works cannot be categorized in stylistic terms.
At the age of seventeen Rautavaara began studying the piano and later went on to study musicology at Helsinki University and composition at the Sibelius Academy. From 1951-53 he was a pupil of Aarre Merikanto receiving his diploma in composition in 1957. In 1955 the Koussewitzky Foundation awarded Jean Sibelius a scholarship in honour of his 90th birthday to enable a young Finnish composer of his choice to study in the United States. Sibelius selected Rautavaara who spent two years studying with Vincent Persichetti at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and also took part in the summer courses at Tanglewood given by Roger Sessions and Aaron Copland. In 1957 Rautavaara continued his studies with Wladimir Vogel in Ascona, Switzerland and a year later with Rudolf Petzold in Cologne. Rautavaara has taught and lectured at the Sibelius Academy as the professor of composition. Since 1988 he made his living as a composer in Helsinki.
Rautavaara’s earliest works revealed close ties to tradition but also his desire to renew it. They were followed by an extreme constructivist and avant-garde phase (as in the serially organized fourth symphony “Arabescata”, 1962) after which Rautavaara turned to hyper-romanticism and finally mysticism. Since the early 1980s Rautavaara has adopted a sort of post-modern musical language in which modern and traditional elements of varying degrees of constructivism or freedom are combined with one another.
Rautavaara composed eight symphonies, the most frequently performed of them being the Angel of Light, his seventh symphony. Symphony No. 8 “The Journey” was premiered in April 2000 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Wolfgang Sawallisch. Other important groups of works include concertos for different solo instruments, among them the three piano concertos, the popular Violin Concerto (1977), the Harp Concerto (2000) and the Clarinet Concerto (2001-02). Rautavaara has also written a large body of chamber music as well as choral and vocal works including All-Night Vigil for a cappella chorus. Rautavaara’s most popular orchestral work is Cantus arcticus, concerto for birds and orchestra, in which the orchestral part is juxtaposed with the sounds of birds recorded by the composer himself.
Apart from his symphonies the central pillars of Rautavaara’s extensive oeuvre are his operas. With Vincent (1985-87) and The House of the Sun (1990) Rautavaara has scored a notable international success. Aleksis Kivi was premiered at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1997 and it has been performed in Cosenza, Italy and Minneapolis, U.S.A since then. The Gift of the Magi (Tietäjien lahja) is a charming opera based on the short story by O. Henry. The last stage work Rautavaara wrote is Rasputin (2001-2003), an opera about the life of mystic and healer Grigory Rasputin. The libretto has been translated into German, and after the Finnish premiere the opera was also performed at the Lybeck Theatre in Germany.
A Finnish Myth / Suomalainen myytti [SALES MATERIA
[performance material for sale] (1977)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 7
A Soldier's Mass
Sotilasmessu (1968)
for wind orchestra
223.3sx(a.t.b).2-444(3&4=basstrb)2(1=baritono)-12
Duration: 11
Adagio celeste [SALES MATERIAL]
(2000)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 6
Aleksis Kivi [complete opera]
(1995-96)
Opera in three acts
Soloists: 11 singing roles, 2 speaking roles 002(II=cl.b)0-0000-02-synth-str Percussione: Crotales, Timpano 25", Piatto sul timpano, Vibrafono, Marimba,Silofono, 4 tom-tom, Tubular bells, Frusta, Guiro, Flexaton, Snare drum, Legno, Piatto, Tamtam
Duration: 105
Anadyomene
Adoration of Aphrodite (1968)
for orchestra
3333-4441-10-hp-str
Duration: 11
Angel of Dusk [chamber version] [for sale only]
(1980/93)
chamber version for double bass, two pianos and percussion
Duration: 27
Angel of Dusk [version for orchestra]
Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (1980/93)
2(II+picc)222-4331-13-hp.cel-str Percussion: Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Tubular bells, Tam-tam, Snare drum, Suspended Cymbal, Bass drum, Flexaton, Legno, 2 Woodblocks, Tom-tom, Glockenspiel
Duration: 27
Angels and Visitations
(1978)
for orchestra
33(III+ca)3(III+bcl)3(III+cfg)-4441-4Wagnertb-13-hp-cel-str
Duration: 20
Annunciations
Concerto for organ, brass group and symphonic wind (1976)
2282-altsax.tsax-4542.euph.-13-db(4)
Duration: 30
Apotheosis
(1992 rev 1999)
for orchestra
223(III=cl.basso)3(III=c.fag)-4421-13(marimba, vibrafono, tam-tam)-hp-str
Duration: 8
Auringon talo / The House of the Sun
Das Sonnenhaus [complete opera] (1990)
Chamber Opera in Two Acts
Soloists: 10 singing roles 1111-2210-02-synth-str Percussion: Timpani (2), Side drum (w/ snare), 5 Tom-toms (also w/ brush), Cuica, Suspended cymbal, Cymbal on timpani, Tamtam (also w/ bow), Marimba, Vibraphone (w/ motor), Wood block, Whip, Guiro, Ratchet
Duration: 100
Autumn Gardens
(1999)
for orchestra
2222-2000-11-str Perc: Glockenspiel, Tub.bells, Xylofono, 4 Tom-toms, Vibrafono, Timpani, Tam-tam
Duration: 28
Ballad for Harp and Strings [FOR SALE ONLY]
(1973/81)
str (also available as string quintet version)
Duration: 10
Before the Icons
(1955 orch 2006)
for orchestra
33(III=c.ing)3(III=cl.b)3(III=c.fag)-4331-12-hp-str Perc: Vibrafono, Tubular bells, 4 Tom-toms, Snare drum, Piatto sospeso, Tam-tam
Duration: 21
Bird Gardens [second version]
Hommage à Zoltán Kodály (1982)
for string orchestra
str (min. 8.6.4.4.2)
Duration: 15
Canto I
(1960)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 6
Canto II
(1960)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 8
Canto III
A Portrait of the Artist at a Certain Moment (1972)
for string orchestra
str (min. 44442)
Duration: 9
Canto IV
(1992)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 17
Cantos I-III
(1960,1972)
for string orchestra
Canto I (1960) 6’ Canto II (1960) 8’ Canto III `A Portrait of the Artist at a Certain Moment’ (1972) 9’
Duration: 21
Cantus arcticus
Concerto for Birds and Orchestra (1972)
for orchestra
2222-2210-11(piatti,tam-tam)-hp-cel-str +tape cd (also available at http://fennica.digital)
Duration: 17
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra
(2001-02)
222(II=bcl)2(II=cfg)-4221-12-hp-str Perc: 4 Tom-toms, Bass drum, Tamtam, Marimba, Vibraphone, Tubular bells
Duration: 26
Concerto for Harp and Orchestra
(2000)
2222-4220-12-2hp-str Perc.: Vibrafono, campane, flexaton, tom-tom, gran cassa
Duration: 23
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
(1977)
2222-4330-13-hp-cel-str Perc: Tubular bells, tam-tam, silofono, marimba, tom-tom, Glockenspiel, gran cassa, castagnette, cabaca, sleigh bells, blocks, whip
Duration: 27
Concerto grottesco
(1950)
for wind orchestra
2222-2211-11-2cb Percussion: Snare drum, Suspended cymbal, Triangle, Wood block 1. Fughetta (1'15) 2. Träumerei (2') 3. Scherzo (1'15) 4. Alla marcia (1')
Duration: 6
Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra
(1989)
1122-4300-12-str
Duration: 22
Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Orchestra
Gift of Dreams (1998)
2222-4220-12-str Percussion: Snare drum, 4 Tom-toms, Bass drum, Tamtam (large), Gong (about 30'), Xylophone, Vibraphone, Tubular bells
Duration: 27
Die Liebenden
version for soprano & string orchestra (1958-59)
for soprano and string orchestra
str 1. Liebes-Lied 2. Der Schauende 3. Die Liebende 4. Der Tod der Geliebten
Duration: 16
Die Liebenden
Version for soprano & string quintet
Duration: 16
Dithyrambos
(1970)
for violin and orchestra
2022-2200-11-str
Duration: 5
Epitaph for Béla Bartók
(1955-56)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 6
Eron hetki on kalveakasvo
Charlottas's Monologue from the opera Aleksis Kivi (1997)
opera excerpt for female voice and orchestra
002(II=cl.b)0-0000-01-str percussione: Vibraphone
Duration: 6
Four songs from the opera "Rasputin"
Neljä laulua oopperasta "Rasputin"
for mixed choir and orchestra
3(III=picc).3(III=c.ing).3(III=cl.b).3(III=c.fg)-4.3.3.1-1.4-2hp-str Perc: Vibraphone, Tubular bells, 4 Tom-tom, Tam-tam, Musical saw, Frusta, Flexaton, Snare drum, Lions roar, Cuica
Duration: 0
Four Songs from the opera Aleksis Kivi
Neljä laulua oopperasta Aleksis Kivi (1997)
for baritone and orchestra
002(II=cl.basso)0-0000-02-DX7(ad lib.)-str 1. Ikävyys 2. Laulu oravasta 3. Oi mailma, elämä sä ihmeellinen 4. Sydämeni laulu
Duration: 18
Fünf Sonette an Orpheus
(1956)
for soprano and orchestra
2222-2220-10-hp-str 1. Da stieg ein Baum 2. Und fast ein Mädchen wars 3. Ein Gott vermags 4. O ihr zärtlichen 5. Errichtet keinen Denkstein Soloist range b - G2. Available also half step lower (a# - F#2).
Duration: 15
Garden of Spaces
(1971)
for orchestra
3000-3100-02(inc.timpani)-pf-vl(min8), vc(min4)
Duration: 12
Guds väg / God's Way
(1964/2003)
for voice and string orchestra
str 1. Gud’s väg 2. Barnet 3. Pingst 4. Dröm i katedralen
Duration: 7
Hommage à Liszt Ferenc
(1989)
for string orchestra
vl I, II, III, vc, db
Duration: 6
Ikävyys (Melancholy)
From Four Songs from the Opera Aleksis Kivi (1997)
for baritone and orchestra
002(II=cl.basso)0-0000-01(vibrafono)-str
Duration: 4
Iltarukous
(1953/2002)
for voice and orchestra
str
Duration: 2
Isle of Bliss / Lintukoto
(1995)
for orchestra
2222-2110-11-hp-str Percussione: Vibrafono, Legno, Tamtam
Duration: 10
Kainuu
Cantata for speaker, mixed choir and percussions (1975)
Speaker, mixed choir, percussions: Timpani, Piatto, Tom-tom, Bongos, Tamburo militare, Guero, Woodblock, Tubular bells, Vibrafono
Duration: 37
Kaivos / The Mine [complete opera]
(1958)
Opera in three acts
3(I=picc).3(III=c.ing).3(III=cl.b).3(III=c.fag)-4(I-IV+wagner tuba).2.2.1-1.2-hp-cel-str, tape=alto sax, ten sax, 3 tr, trombone, bass, drums Solists: sopr solo, 2ten solo, 2baryt solo, 2basso solo, speaker, chx+chs Percussion: Snare drum, Triangle, Cymbals a2, Suspended cymbal, Gong, Tam-tam, Bass drum
Duration: 80
Kiusaukset / The Temptations / Les tentations
Allegorical Ballet in One Act (1969)
2222-4331-12-hp-cel-str
Duration: 30
Lapsimessu / A Children's Mass
(1973)
for children’s chorus and strings
str
Duration: 15
Laulu oravasta (The Squirrel)
From Four Songs from the Opera Aleksis Kivi (1997)
for baritone and orchestra
002(II=cl.basso)0-0000-str
Duration: 4
Marjatta matala neiti / Marjatta, the Lowly Maiden
A Finnish Mystery Play in One Act (1977)
for chorus (SA) with 5 soloists and instrumental ensemble
for chorus (SA) with 5 soloists + fl/perc/org(=str4)
Duration: 25
Meren tytär [Daughter of the Sea]
Concerto for soprano, choir and orchestra (1971)
Soprano solo, mixed choir, 3(III=picc)3(III0c.ing)3(III=cl.basso)3(III=c.fag)-4331-12-hp-str Percussione: 2 Tam-tams, Piatto, Gran cassa, Tamburo militare, Side drum, Tenor drum, Gong
Duration: 17
Modificata
(1957)
for orchestra
3(I=picc)3(III=c.ing)3(III=cl.b)3(III=c.fag)-4331-13-str Percussione: Xilofono, Vibrafono, Marimba, 3 Tom-tom, 3 Tam-tam, Gran cassa, Triangolo, Castagnetti, Maracas, Woodblock, Side drum, Piatto sospeso
Duration: 13
Nikolain monologi / The Monologue of Tsar Nicholas
from the opera Rasputin (2001-03)
opera excerpt for bass and orchestra
0033-4331-02-2hp-str
Duration: 5
Octet for Winds
(1962)
1111-2110
Duration: 15
Oi mailma, elämä sä ihmeellinen
From Four Songs from the Opera Aleksis Kivi (1997)
for baritone and orchestra
002(II=cl.basso)0-0000-02-str perc: marimba, tubular bells, vibraphono, piatto sul timp.
Duration: 5
On the Last Frontier / Viimeisellä rajalla
A Fantasy for Chorus and Orchestra (1998)
for mixed chorus and orchestra
3(III=picc).2.3(III=cl.b).3(III=c.fag)-4.3.3.1-1.2-hp-str Percussione: Flex., Gl.spiel, Piatto, Tamtam, Tomtom, Vibr., Xyl.
Duration: 24
Ostrobothnian Polka / Pohjalainen polska [orch.]
(1980)
for orchestra
2222-3220-11-str
Duration: 3
Ostrobothnian Polka / Pohjalainen polska [strings]
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 3
Playgrounds for Angels
(1981)
For brass players
4tpt/4tbn/hn/tba
Duration: 14
Praevariata
(1957)
for orchestra
2222-4431-12-str
Duration: 7
Quis est!
(2001-03)
for baritone and orchestra
2222-4321-13-pf-str
Duration: 0
Rasputin [complete opera]
(2001-03)
Opera in Three Acts
Soloists: 24 singing roles, mixed chorus 3333-4331-12-2hp-str
Duration: 150
Requiem in Our Time, A
New edition 2023 (1953)
for brass and percussion
0000-4432-11 Percussion: Snare drum, Cymbals, Suspended cymbal, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Bell This new edition (3/2023) includes the corrected standard version and the first version.
Duration: 12
Sampo / The Myth of Sampo
(1974/81)
Choral Opera in One Act
Soloists: 3 singing roles, reciter male chorus, synth.
Duration: 0
Siperia-monologi / The Siberia-Monologue
from the opera Rasputin (2001-03)
opera excerpt for bass and orchestra
3333-0331-11-2hp-str
Duration: 7
Starry Sky (Introduction) from Opera Vincent
(1986-87)
Opera excerpt
4tromb-3perc-hp-synth-str
Duration: 4
String Quartet No. 1
Duration: 0
Suite for Strings
(1952)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 12
Suuri pitkäperjantai / The Great Good Friday
(1953/2002)
for voice and string orchestra
str
Duration: 2
Sydämeni laulu (Song of My Heart)
From Four Songs from the Opera Aleksis Kivi (1997)
for baritone and orchestra
001(I=cl.basso)0-0000-01(tam-tam)-str
Duration: 5
Symphony No. 1
(1956 rev 2003)
for orchestra
2(II+picc).2.2.2-4.3.2.1-1.3-str Percussioni: Xilofono, piatto, gran cassa, guiro, tam-tam, snare drum, piatti, cuica
Duration: 22
Symphony No. 2
(1957 rev 1984)
for orchestra
2(I=picc)2(II=ca)3(I=ebcl;III=bcl)2(II=cfg)-2110-13-str Perc I: Tom-Tom, Gran cassa, Vibraphone Perc II: Tamburo militare, Side Drum, Tam-Tam, Marimba, Frusta, Guiro Perc III: Piatti, Glockenspiel, Xylophone
Duration: 21
Symphony No. 3
(1961)
for orchestra
2222-223(III=btrb)1.4Wagnertba-10-str
Duration: 32
Symphony No. 4
Arabescata (1963)
for orchestra
323.asx.2-2341.Wagnertba-14-hp-cel-pf-str
Duration: 20
Symphony No. 5
(1986)
for orchestra
3(III+picc.)3(III=c.ing)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4441-13-str Percussion: Tam-tam, Campane, Tubular Bells, Marimba, Glass Chimes, Vibraphone, Tom-tom (6), Gran cassa, Piatto, Bamboos
Duration: 31
Symphony No. 6
Vincentiana (1992)
for orchestra
223(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-13-hp-synth-str Percussion 3 players (4 Tom-toms, Bass drum, 3 Suspended cymbals, 3 Tam-tams, Crotales, Glockenspiel, Marimba, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Tubular Bells, Wood block, Guiro, Flexaton) Synthesizer specifications available at fennica.digital
Duration: 42
Symphony No. 7
Angel of Light (1994)
for orchestra
2222-4331-12-hp-str Percussion: Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Xylophone, Marimba, Snare drum, 4 Tom-toms, 3 tam-tams
Duration: 38
Symphony No. 8
The Journey (1999)
for orchestra
3(III=picc)3(III=ca)3(III=bcl)3(III=cfg)-4431-12-2hp-str Percussion: 4 Tom-toms, Cymbal, Gong (30'), 3 Tam-tams, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Tubular bells
Duration: 25
The Fiddlers / Pelimannit [SALES MATERIAL]
(1952 orch 1972)
for string orchestra
str
Duration: 9
Thomas [complete opera]
(1985)
Opera in Three Acts
Soloists: 9 singing roles 2222-4321-13-pf-str electroacoustic music + children’s chorus, mixed chorus
Duration: 105
Thomas. Qvis est
opera excerpt
Duration: 0
Thomas. Tytön vokaliisi
II näytös, tahdit 1-39 (1985)
Opera excerpt
Duration: 0
Three Sonnets of Shakespeare
for voice, stirngs, and percussion (1951/2005)
perc(2)-str perc: Timpani, vibrafono, tubular bells, marimba I: That Time of Year II: When I Do Count The Clock III: Shall I Compare Thee
Duration: 8
Tietäjien lahja / The Gift of the Magi
A Christmas Fable, Chamber Opera (1993-94)
Soloists: 5 singing roles 1212-2000-01-str Percussion: Vibraphone, Marimba, Tubular Bells, Side Drum, 4 Tom-toms, Tam-tam
Duration: 45
Tietäjien lahja. Johdanto
The Gift of the Magi. Introduction
opera excerpt for orchestra
1212-2000-02-str Percussion: Vibraphone, Tubular Bells, Tam-tam
Duration: 5
Vincent [complete opera]
(1987)
Opera in Three Acts
Soloists: 11 singing roles 2233-4441-13-hp-synth-str + mixed chorus
Duration: 99
Violin Concerto (II Energico)
BIS CD 1315 Lahti Symphony Orchestra, cond. Osmo Vänskä, sol. Jaakko Kuusisto
(BIS Records CD-1315)
Symphony No. 1 (I Andante)
National Orchestra of Belgium, cond. Mikko Franck
(Ondine Records CD-1064-5)
Symphony 7 Angel of Light (I Tranquillo)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Leif Segerstam
(Ondine Records CD- 869-2)
Cantus arcticus, Concerto for Birds and Orchestra (I The Bog)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Leif Segerstam
(Ondine Records CD-1041-2)
All-Night Vigil (Vigilia) (Final Blessing)
Finnish Radio Chamber Choir, cond. Timo Nuoranne
(Ondine Records CD-910-2)
Adagio celeste for string orchestra
Angel of Light (Symphony No. 7)
Angels and Visitations
Apotheosis
A Requiem in Our Time
Autumn Gardens
Before the Icons
Cantus arcticus
Isle of Bliss (Lintukoto)
On the Last Frontier
Piano Concerto No. 3 “Gift of Dreams
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 6 “Vincentiana”
Symphony No. 8 “The Journey”
Violin Concerto