Rautavaara: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rautavaara (b. 1928) is one of the best composers working out of Finland today and Ondine has brought out all of his symphonies. Of course, Rautavaara is working under the shadow of Jean Sibelius, but so far he's holding his own. Symphony 1 (1957) allows its traditional tonality to stretch into occasional bursts of atonality. Symphony 2 (revised: 1984) is more energetic and consciously non-tonal. He's working here with atonal clusters instead of standard modal development patterns. It's more avant-garde. His Symphony 3 (1959-60) is a return to aspects of Romanticism but is still framed in a 12-tonal mode. This is an excellent series, highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Rautavaara: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3, Music, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Max Pommer, Leipziger Rundfunkorchester (Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra), 20th/21st Century Symphony, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Symphonic

Average customer rating:

Interesting!

First three symphonies - the birth, expansion and synthesis

Warning: Contains Birdcalls!

Rautavaara: Symphonies 1, 2 & 3

Manufacturer: Ondine
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Rautavaara, Einojuhani | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000376X
Release Date: 1995-02-01

Tracks:

Sym No.1: I. Andante
Sym No.1: II. Allegro
Sym No.2: I. Quasi Grave
Sym No.2: II. Vivace
Sym No.2: III. Largo
Sym No.2: IV. Presto
Sym No.3: Langsam, Breit, Ruhig
Sym No.3: Langsam, Doch Nicht Schleppend
Sym No.3: Sehr Schnell
Sym No.3: Bewegt

Amazon.com

Rautavaara (b. 1928) is one of the best composers working out of Finland today and Ondine has brought out all of his symphonies. Of course, Rautavaara is working under the shadow of Jean Sibelius, but so far he's holding his own. Symphony 1 (1957) allows its traditional tonality to stretch into occasional bursts of atonality. Symphony 2 (revised: 1984) is more energetic and consciously non-tonal. He's working here with atonal clusters instead of standard modal development patterns. It's more avant-garde. His Symphony 3 (1959-60) is a return to aspects of Romanticism but is still framed in a 12-tonal mode. This is an excellent series, highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Interesting!.......2006-06-30

The 1st symphony is more tonal than the others, and with many melancholy and sinister undertones, and the touches of bird calls add some atmosphere - remaniscent of Cantus Arcticus (qv). The second is very dissonant, and interesting in its way. The third, in my opinion the best and most interesting, has contrasts, mixing tonality and atonality from the 1st and 2nd symphonies respectively, and also mixing romanticism with 12-tone serialism - the 1st mvt seems to come out of silence, with some short runs on the wind instruments. The "Sehr Schnell" mvt, my favourite of all the CD tracks, is a very lively dance-like movement.
I recommend this CD to those who generally like modern symphonies.

First three symphonies - the birth, expansion and synthesis.......2004-07-31

I think this would be the perfect description of first three symphonies written by a composer who started his music writting career in the beginning of fifties in 20th century. First three symphonies display three different composers. If you listen to these works without knowing who the composer is, you will not say the same composer did it. Well, nearly. Since the main energy is reserved for slow movements which is Rautavaara's speciality, there are some similar points in each of these three works.
First symphony is surprisingly in only two movements (the composer denied previous version which had four movements). The first movement has some similarities with late works, but the orchestration is more simple and close to Shostakovich. The second movement is a short scherzo which brings Prokofjev to mind. I don't think it was a good idea to conclude the symphony with so short intermezzo like piece. The listener will probably expect more.
Second symphony has four movements. Again it shows how composer prefers slow movements. The second and fourth which are fast are also very short. The relatively clear tonality from the first symphony has dissapeared, even if triads have not. This symphony is a bit too abstract to become popular.
Third symphony, the most mature early work of the composer turns back to tonality (d minor), but contains many new elements of music development, including dodecaphony. Dodecaphony is frequently atonal, but not in Rautavaara's symphony. So it is possible to make dodecaphony simple and nice to listen! First movement is a organic, elemental music, which brings Bruckner to mind. Second movement is slow and is a weak point in the symphony. Come on, Rautavaara, write something agile! Nobody enjoys symphonies if they have three slow movements and only one fast (and short!) one. Third and fourth movement mix perfectly with the first movement.
The recording is excellent. How the heck can the orchestra make such pianissimo in the beginning of the third symphony? Wow!

Warning: Contains Birdcalls!.......2001-04-30