Einojuhani Rautavaara
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Einojuhani Rautavaara (born October 9, 1928) is a Finnish composer of modern classical music, probably the best-known Finnish composer of his generation.
Life
He was born in Helsinki and studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki under Aarre Merikanto from 1948 to 1952 before Jean Sibelius recommended him for a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. There he was taught by Vincent Persichetti, and he also took lessons from Roger Sessions and Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He first came to international attention when he won the Thor Johnson Contest for his composition A Requiem of Our Time in 1954.Rautavaara served as a non-tenured teacher at the Sibelius Academy from 1957-1959, music archivist of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 1959-1961, rector of the Käpylä Music Institute in Helsinki from 1965-1966, tenured teacher at the Sibelius Academy from 1966-1976, Artist Professor (government appointment) from 1971-1976, and Professor of Composition at the Sibelius Academy from 1976-1990.
Rautavaara is a prolific composer and has written in a variety of forms and styles. Much of his work is quite accessible and has proved to be quite popular. He experimented with serial techniques in his early career but left them behind in the 1960s and even his serial works are not obviously serial. His third symphony, for example, uses such techniques, but sounds more like Anton Bruckner than it does a more traditional serialist such as Pierre Boulez. His later works often have a mystical element (such as in several works with titles making reference to angels). A characteristic 'Rautavaara sound' might be a rhapsodic string theme of austere beauty, with whirling flute lines, gently dissonant bells, and perhaps the suggestion of a pastoral horn.
His compositions include eight symphonies, several concertos, choral works (several for unaccompanied choir, including Vigilia (1971-72)), sonatas for various instruments, string quartets and other chamber music, and a number of operas including Vincent (1986-87, based on the life of Vincent Van Gogh), Aleksis Kivi (1995-96) and Rasputin (2001-2003) A number of his works have parts for magnetic tape, including Cantus Arcticus (1972, also known as Concerto for Birds & Orchestra) for taped bird song and orchestra, and True and False Unicorn (1971, second version 1974, revised 2001-02), the final version of which is for three reciters, choir, orchestra and tape. His latest works include Book of Visions (2003-2005) for orchestra and Manhattan Trilogy (2003-2005) for string orchestra. Rautavaara had a serious seizure at the beginning of the year 2004 but has later on recovered.
Many of Rautavaara's works have been recorded, with a performance of his seventh symphony, Angel of Light (1995), by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam on the Ondine label, being a particular critical and popular success - it was nominated for several awards, including a Grammy.
Works
Orchestral Works
- Symphonies
- *Symphony No. 1
- *Symphony No. 2 Sinfonia Intima
- *Symphony No. 3
- *Symphony No. 4 Arabescata
- *Symphony No. 5
- *Symphony No. 6 Vincentiana
- *Symphony No. 7 Angel of Light
- *Symphony No. 8 The Journey
- Concerto for Birds and Orchestra Cantus Arcticus, for taped bird sounds and orchestra
- Angels and Visitations
- Book of Visions
- Garden of Spaces
- Isle of Bliss
- Anadyomene (Adoration of Aphrodite)
Concertante Works
- Piano Concerto No. 1
- Piano Concerto No. 2
- Piano Concerto No. 3 Gift of Dreams
- Harp concerto
- Violin Concerto
- Cello Concerto
- Double Bass Concerto Angel of Dusk
- Flute Concerto Dances with the Winds
- Clarinet Concerto
Stage Works
- Vincent, opera
- Rasputin, opera
- Aleksis Kivi, opera
- The House of the Sun, chamber opera
- The Gift of the Magi, chamber opera
Choral Works
- All-Night Vigil, a capella sacred music
- On the Last Frontier, fantasy for chorus and orchestra
Chamber/Instrumental Works
- Four string quartets
- String quintet Unknown Heavens
- Two sonatas for cello and piano
- Octet for wind instruments
- Hymnus for trumpet and organ
External links
- [CV] and [list of works] from the Finnish Music Information Centre
- [Home page at Boosey & Hawkes]
- [Biographical sketch at Virtual Finland, produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]
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