Many of us know and love the work of Jean Sibelius, Finland’s greatest musical export, but the countries around the Gulf of Finland have given us a wealth of composers, some better known than others. This week’s theme is music from this land of lakes and islands — isolated, self-contained, and full of beauty. Composers like Erkki Melartin, Leevi Madetoja, Heino Eller, and Arvo Pärt, working in the long shadow of Sibelius, created violin concertos, symphonies, tone poems, choral works, and chamber works. So, what is it that fascinates us about this distant northern region? Perhaps we will sum it up best with a fantastic piece by Uuno Klami called Aurora Borealis.
Episode 1 - MONDAY
Haapalainen, Vainio: Fidler’s Portrait
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Okko Kamu
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Okko
Ondine ODE9372
3:19
Järnefelt, Armas: Berceuse for Small Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen
A Nordic Festival
Sony 46668
3:09
Järnefelt, Armas: Preludium
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Ulf Soederblom
Armas JÄRNEFELT (1869-1958)
STERLING CDS1021-2
2:30
Melartin, Erkki: Mirjamin Laulu 1
Karita Mattila, soprano; Ilmo Ranta, piano
Excellence – The Artistry Of Karita Mattila
Ondine 1054
1:51
Merikanto, Oskar: Pan (Symphonic Poem)
RSO Segerstam/Saraste
Best of by Oskar Merikanto
Finlandia 349
11:48
Melartin, Erkki: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 60: I. Allegro moderato
John Storgards, violin; Tampere Philharmonic/Leif Segerstam
Violin Concerto • Sleeping Beauty Suite • Lyric Suite No. 3
Ondine 923-2
11:35
Melartin, Erkki: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 60: II. Andante assai tranquillo
John Storgards, violin; Tampere Philharmonic/Leif Segerstam
Violin Concerto • Sleeping Beauty Suite • Lyric Suite No. 3
Ondine 923-2
8:29
Melartin, Erkki: Lyric Suite No.3, “Impressions de Belgique,” V. Les Cloches
John Storgards, violin; Tampere Philharmonic/Leif Segerstam
Violin Concerto • Sleeping Beauty Suite • Lyric Suite No. 3
Ondine 923-2
4:10
Mustonen, Olli: Petite Suite: Pastorale
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Mustonen
Triple Concerto | Petit Suite | Nonets 1 & 2
Ondine 974-2
1:52
Episode 2 - TUESDAY
Melartin, Erkki: Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 90, “Sinfonia Brevis”:
III. Intermezzo: Allegro Moderato Tampere
Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonid Grin
The Six Symphonies
Ondine ODE 931-2
6:02
Englund, Einar: Symphony No. 4 for Strings and Percussion: II. Tempus fugit
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Leif Segerstam
Finnish Flute Concertos
Finlandia Records – 4509-95861-2
4:50
Englund, Einar: The White Reindeer, Suite for Orchestra:
I. Overture; III. Reindeer Race; IV. Funeral March; V. Finale
Lahti Symphony/Osmo Vanska
A Festival of Finnish Music
BIS-CD-575
9:16
Englund, Einar: Jazz Intermezzo (from The Great Wall of China)
Tampere Philharmonic Orch/Eri Klas
The Great Wall Of China, Symphonies 4 & 5
Ondine – ODE 961-2
3:19
Kokkonen, Joonas: Il Paesaggio
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Osmo Vanska
Joonas Kokkonen: Durch Einen Spiegel; Wind Quintet; Sinfonia da Camera; Il Paesaggio
BIS CD 528
9:21
Klami, Uuno: Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), Op. 38
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/John Storgards
Uuno Klami – Northern Lights, Kalevala Suite & Cheremissian Fantasy
Ondine ODE11432
18:35
Episode 3 - WED
Madetoja, Leevi: Symphony #1 In F, Op. 29, III. Finale: Allegro Vivace
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/John Storgårds
Madetoja: Symphonies Nos. 1/ 3
Ondine 1211-2
6:38
Madetoja, Leevi: Symphony #3 In A, Op. 55, IV. Pesante, Tempo Moderato, Allegretto
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra /John Storgårds
Madetoja: Symphonies Nos. 1/ 3
Ondine 1211-2
7:10
Rautavaara, Einojuhani: Suite For Strings, I. Presto
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra/Juha Kangas
Rautavaara – The 8 Symphonies
Ondine 991-2
12:33
Salonen, Esa-Pekka: Violin Concerto, II. Pulse 1
Leila Josefowicz, violin; Finnish
Radio Symphony Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen Out Of Nowhere: Violin Concerto / Nyx
DG B0017521-02
8:53
Lindberg, Magnus Gustaf Adolf: Parada, for orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen
The Music Of Magnus Lindberg: Cantigas / Cello Concerto / Parada / Fresco
Sony 89810
12:39
Madetoja, Leevi: Okon Fuoko, The Dream Sorcerer Suite, Op. 58, 3. Dance Of The Puppets
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/John Storgårds
Madetoja: Symphonies Nos. 1/ 3
Ondine 1211-2
2:31
Episode 4 - THURSDAY
Dvarionas, Balys: Elegie For Violin & String Orchestra
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen/Gidon Kremer
From My Home
Teldec 063014654-2
5:37
Plakidis, Pēteris: Two Grasshopper Dances for solo violin. I. Sad Dance
Gidon Kremer, violin
From My Home
Teldec 063014654-2
3:02
Vasks, Peteris: Symphony for Strings, “Stimmen”
Stimmen Des Lebens II. Stimme Des Gewissens
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestar/Juha Kangas
Stimmen And Other Baltic Works For String Orchestra, Vol. 1
Finlandia 450997892-2
21:34
Barkauskas, Vytautas: Partita For Violin Solo, Praludium, Scherzo, Epilog
Gidon Kremer, violin
From My Home
Teldec 063014654-2
3:14
Vasks, Pēteris: Musica Dolorosa
Marc Francoux, cello; Gidon Kremer, violin: Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
From My Home
Teldec 063014654-2
14:30
Episode 5 - FRIDAY
Eller, Heino: Tone Poem, “Dawn”
Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
RSNO / Jarvi – Music From Estonia, Vol. 1
Chandos 8525
8:16
Tubin, Eduard: Symphony No.5, Allegro energico
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Symphony No. 5 / Suite From The Ballet “Kratt”
Bis 306
9:55
Tubin, Eduard: Suite from the ballet ‘Kratt’ Introduction Peasant Dance, Dance of the Goblin
Bamberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Symphony No. 5 / Suite From The Ballet “Kratt”
Bis 306
4:58
Tormis, Veljo: Crosswind
Svanholm Singers Tormis/Sofia Soderberg Eberhard
VELJO TORMIS: WORKS FOR MEN’S VOICES
Toccata Classics 73
4:13
Tormis, Veljo: Men’s Songs, Vol. 1 No. 5: Song of the Turkish War
Svanholm Singers Tormis/Sofia Soderberg Eberhard
VELJO TORMIS: WORKS FOR MEN’S VOICES
Toccata Classics 73
3:45
Tormis, Veljo: Men’s Songs, Vol. 1 No. 8: Dancing Song
Svanholm Singers Tormis/Sofia Soderberg Eberhard
VELJO TORMIS: WORKS FOR MEN’S VOICES
Toccata Classics 73
2:37
Pärt, Arvo: Fratres
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen/Gidon Kremer
From My Home
Teldec 063014654-2
11:03
Eespere, René: Trivium (excerpt)
Camerata Tallinn
Northern Lights: Music Of Contemplation For A New Age
Finlandia 11421-2
3:29
Sisask, Urmas: Maja (from Starry Sky Cycle)
Lauri Väinmaa
Northern Lights: Music Of Contemplation For A New Age
Finlandia 11421-2
1:29
Pärt, Arvo: Spiegel im Spiegel
Daniel Hope & Simon Mulligan
Shostakovich: Violin Sonata
Nimbus 5631
1:52
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