Album

Einojuhani Rautavaara has produced an astonishing body of works—symphonies, concertos, operas, chamber music, and choral works—the fruit of an apparently inexhaustible imagination. The composer's works for children's chorus alone make up this attractive Ondine release. The largest piece, Marjatta, the Lowly Maiden, with texts from the Kalevala, is described as a Finnish mystery play in one act, in which the story of the Annunciation and Jesus' birth is transported to the northern forests. It is accompanied with great restraint and austerity by flute, bongos, anvil, and string quartet. The piece beautifully illustrates Rautavaara's ability to conjure up aural images of mystery and transcendence using very simple materials; the haunting music is often very strange, but it is never complicated. All of the pieces on the album, in fact, demonstrate the composer's gift for artless, memorable melody deployed with such inventiveness that it is never hackneyed or predictable. This may be music written for children to perform and enjoy, but its substance and depth give it plenty to offer adult sensibilities. The pieces were written between the early '70s and mid-'90s. The Tapiola Choir, led by Pasi Hyökki, sings with purity, sweetness, and mature musicality. The soloists are all superb, particularly soprano Tuuli Lindeberg in the title role in Marjatta. Ondine's sound is clean, clear, and balanced.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
John Fox Composer Carol Fantasia, for orchestra Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
1	Carol Fantasia, for orchestra	6:18			$0.99
Bryan Kelly Composer Scrooge, for narrator, violin & orchestra Work Recorded 2011 RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Mia Cooper Violin, Simon Callow Narrator
2	Scrooge, for narrator, violin & orchestra	19:47			$3.49
Philip Lane Composer Old Christmas Music, for orchestra Work Recorded 2011 12:11 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, Simon Callow Narrator, Royal Ballet Sinfonia Orchestra
3	Gaudete	1:58			$0.99
4	The First Mercy	2:37			$0.99
5	Bring a torch	1:32			$0.99
6	Bethlehem Down	4:02			$0.99
7	Carol of the bells	2:02			$0.99
Philip Lane Composer Another Night Before Christmas, for narrator and orchestra Work Recorded 2011 RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
8	Another Night Before Christmas, for narrator and orchestra	6:00			$0.99
Matthew Curtis Composer Christmas Rush, concert march for orchestra Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
9	Christmas Rush, concert march for orchestra	4:23			$0.99
Vladimir Ivanovich Rebikov Composer Waltz from 'Yolka' ('The Christmas Tree'), for piano, Op.21 Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator, Royal Ballet Sinfonia Orchestra
10	Waltz from 'Yolka' ('The Christmas Tree'), for piano, Op.21	2:25			$0.99
Franz Liszt Composer Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree), S.186 Work Recorded 2011 13:37 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
11	5.Scherzoso (Little Scherzo 'Lighting the Tree')	2:13			$0.99
12	6.Carillon (Chimes)	2:42			$0.99
13	10.Ehemals (Old Times)	4:28			$0.99
14	12.Polnisch (Polish)	4:14			$0.99
Adam Saunders Composer Fairytale Sleighride, for orchestra Work Recorded 2008 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, Simon Callow Narrator, Royal Ballet Sinfonia Orchestra
15	Fairytale Sleighride, for orchestra	4:37			$0.99
Angela Morley Composer Snow Ride, for orchestra Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
16	Snow Ride, for orchestra	3:43			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Seasons, Op.37b Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
17	11.November: Troika	3:07			$0.99
Thomas Hewitt Jones Composer Christmas Cracker, for orchestra Work Recorded 2011 Gavin Sutherland Conductor, RTE Concert Orchestra Orchestra, Simon Callow Narrator
18	Christmas Cracker, for orchestra	3:11			$0.99