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 1970s 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
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Marjatta matala neiti (mystery play in 1 act) Work Recorded 2010 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children), Leevi Haapanen Anvil, Maria Vuorinen String Quartet String Quartet, Anna Matvejeff Flute, Eero Saari Bongos
1	Marjatta matala neiti (mystery play in 1 act)	25:05			$3.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Puusepän poika (The Carpenter's Son), for SSA chorus Work Recorded 2010 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children), Julia Hämäläinen Soprano
2	Puusepän poika (The Carpenter's Son), for SSA chorus	3:32			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Lorca Suite, for mixed or children's choir Work Recorded 2010 6:43 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children), Aliisa Heinonen Soprano, Elina Palkama Soprano, Julia Hämäläinen Soprano, Sofia Niemi Soprano, Aliisa Lehtonen Soprano, Sarah Devoyon Contralto
3	1.Canción de jinete (The Rider)	1:35			$0.99
4	2.El Grito (The Scream)	1:59			$0.99
5	3.La luna asoma (The Moon)	1:55			$0.99
6	4.Malagueña	1:14			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Lorulei, for SSA chorus Work Recorded 2010 2:37 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children)
7	1.Mistä on pienet pojat tehty	1:03			$0.99
8	2.Hus sika metsään	1:05			$0.99
9	3.Peukaloputti sian sai	0:29			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Viatonten valssi (Waltz of the Innocents), for SSA chorus, violin and piano Work Recorded 2011 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children), Timo Holopainen Violin
10	Viatonten valssi (Waltz of the Innocents), for SSA chorus, violin and piano	2:52			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Wenn sich die Welt auftut, for SSAA chorus Work Recorded 2011 10:30 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children)
11	1.Freude steigt in uns auf	1:17			$0.99
12	2.Meine Liebe	1:40			$0.99
13	3.Dann, in jener Nacht	3:09			$0.99
14	4.Der Brief	2:07			$0.99
15	5.Flüstern	2:17			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Rakkaus ei koskaan häviä, for soprano and female chorus Work Recorded 2011 Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children), Elina Palkama Soprano
16	Rakkaus ei koskaan häviä, for soprano and female chorus	2:48			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Lapsimessu (A Children's Mass), for children's chorus Work Recorded 2010 14:26 Tapiola Youth Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Pasi Hyökki Conductor, Tapiola Children's Choir Chorus/Choir (Children)
17	1.Kyrie	1:56			$0.99
18	2.Meditatio super Kyrie	2:45			$0.99
19	3.Gloria	1:02			$0.99
20	4.Meditatio super Gloriam	1:32			$0.99
21	5.Agnus Dei	2:41			$0.99
22	6.Meditatio super Agnum Dei	2:46			$0.99
23	7.Alleluia	1:44			$0.99