Rautavaara, Einojuhani

(1928-2016)

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

Einojuhani Rautavaara (arr. Rantanen): Icons for accordion
Read more
Rautavaara: String Quartet No. 1 (Urtext Edition 2020)
Read more
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Divertimento for string orchestra [New edition 2020]
Read more
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 1
Read more
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Angel of Light (Symphony No. 7)
Read more
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Sydämeni laulu – Song of My Heart
Read more

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)