Rautavaara: Works for String Orchestra, Vol. 2

 

While I like that Ondine programs Rautavaara's set of four Canto in chronological order, Canto I & II get this recording off to a rather knotty start, harmonically speaking. Luckily for the listener, these two are not quite as forbidding as his Symphony no. 4, so once you get to know the composer's patterns, they are not necessarily tough to listen to. That, and they are rather short as well. Canto III and IV show more of a progression towards Rautavaara's later style, although the avant-garde is a large part of the music here. These last two Canto are also longer pieces of music, better fitting Rautavaara's slow harmonic rhythm and unhurried unfolding of the music he is known for.

The Ballad for Harp and Strings is a nice change of pace, even if there is a curiously bi-tonal sort of relationship contrasted between the layers of string orchestra with the solo harp. On the other hand, I do like the placement of Finnish harpist Reija Bister in the sonic landscape. A Finnish Myth is a gruff work, dwelling in dark, pulsating musical regions rather than fantastical ones, while the Ostrobothnian Polska is anything but the rustic folk dance one might expect, instead, more a square-dance nightmare. Both works are quite a surprise to hear considering their titles, requiring the listener to create their own hooks into the music, rather than the music drawing the listener in.

Unlike Ondine's first volume of Rautavaara's string orchestra compositions (BLOG), this second volume is a rather tough listen. For me, it is fun to explore more works from the 20th Century Finnish composer, but I don't know if that would be true for every listener, especially if you are expecting his later 2000s meditative compositional style.

 

 

Work Series
Vol. 2 from Works for String Orchestra on Ondine


Works
Canto I (5.35)
Canto II (8.24)
Canto III (9.16)
Canto IV (16.34)
Ballad for Harp and Strings (10.04)
A Finnish Myth (6.16)
Ostrobothnian Polska (3.05)

Soloist
Reija Bister, harp

Ensembles
Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

Juha Kangas, conductor 

Label: Ondine
Year: 1995
Total Timing: 60.01

None of these seven works for string orchestra really pull me in. This is quite different from the first volume on Ondine, where at least the first half of the program offered some easily-digestible delights.

I can't fault the players or its conductor, though. Instead, the problem lies between this listener and the composer's music. I just can't imagine any of these becoming favorites any time soon.

Find more Rautavaara recordings HERE!