This is an impressive work for string orchestra. Although as a young composer Sallinen set out on the obligatory post-Webern, experimental track, he soon returned to tonality as a basis for his composition, and tends to use melody as the dominant aspect of his works. In this case, a motive stressing an important interval binds the twelve-minute piece together. It begins in a texture that has a lot of repetition of fast fragments of melody, confused and not a little chaotic. Nevertheless, there is something in the stressing of the basic motive and in the way it avoids harsh pilings-up of sound promising a generally audience-friendly tone. From that point, Sallinen slowly clarifies the textures until the melodic basis of the music is revealed, a tune with apparent folk roots. As the music then progresses towards the end, this melody sinks gradually back into a quiet accompaniment. An impressive piece with a faintly melancholy mood.

© Joseph Stevenson, Rovi