(Brief: Write a short article of up to 600 words about a piece of classical music that you love).
Cantus Arcticus: Concerto for Birds and Orchestra by Einojuhani Rautavaara- Captivating from Start to Finnish I was first introduced to this composer and piece from Finland (commissioned by the University of Oulo for its inaugural doctoral degree ceremony in 1972) while studying music as a teenager at college. It made me realise that, despite considering myself both a fan of and somewhat knowledgeable about so-called classical music, there were rich stylistic veins for me yet to discover, even just within Europe. Having developed an interest in composition myself, it was very formative at this time, even partially guiding the content of the interview that secured my place to study music at Cardiff University. What struck me when I first heard Cantus Arcticus was that it has a distinctly 20th century, Finnish (as I found after exploring many compatriot composers such as Kaija Saariaho), and, in my opinion, remarkable sound. The three-movement piece starts with a flute duet, a meandering line shared between the parts, eventually becoming more static and joined by the clarinets with shimmering trills. Oboes and trombones enter, mimicking birds, while recorded birdsong is played on tape. This is one of the key aspects of Cantus Arcticus, and perhaps a surprising one. Often, electronic music is thought of as a modern phenomenon, its associations with popular genres seemingly so distant from the world of orchestras and concert halls. However, electronic instruments have existed since the 19th century and it shouldn’t be forgotten that popular artists today are partially indebted to giants of Western musical history and the compositional norms they established. This is an excellent piece for attempting the practice of ‘active listening’, for example identifying themes and recognising their recurrence (e.g. the chromatic flute opening is reprised in the third movement, by this point altered and developed extensively). This is something that, whether expectations of how the musical elements (i.e. harmony, melody, rhythm, etc.) have been used to achieve this are confirmed or subverted, can be nothing short of thrilling! As well as single melodies to pick out, the piece also has expansive cinematic grandeur, with the brass and string sections coming in to elevate the emotion of each movement to epic levels. The recorded birdsong on tape is not only an interesting soundworld for the orchestra to contribute to or be inspired by, but also provides a programmatic element, a story for the piece to tell. Extended pieces, especially some earlier symphonies and concerti, can feel inaccessible to newcomers simply due to their absoluteness, e.g. perhaps just a collection of melodies, accompanied by predictable harmony and structured in an established form. Conversely, Rautavaara takes us on a real journey through the movements, from ancient landscapes (‘I: The Bog’) to arctic skies (‘III: Swans Migrating’), conjuring these images masterfully with his harmonic and orchestrational language and evoking ideas of both remoteness and power. This piece is valuable to today’s performers, composers, and audiences for several reasons. Firstly, I believe it is a relatively underperformed work, with programmes generally dominated by more widely-known composers and popular pieces; it is beneficial to both those with established and emerging interests in music to seek out new composers and their sounds. Secondly, it is an unusual piece, with its mimicry of animal sounds on live instruments juxtaposed with electronic recordings. Finally, I believe it is simply a beautiful piece of music to listen to, that tells a timeless story of nature in a truly enthralling way.
Sources Hiller, Lejaren, Electronic music: Tape music, < https://www.britannica.com/art/electronic- music/Tape-music >, [accessed 6/1/21]
Morrison, Chris, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra), for orchestra & taped bird songs, Op. 6, Description, < https://www.allmusic.com/composition/cantus-arcticus-concerto-for-birds- orchestra-for-orchestra-taped-bird-songs-op-61-mc0002372291 >, [accessed 6/1/21]
Rautavaara, Einojuhani, Cantus Arcticus, [score], (Helsinki, Fennica Gehrman, 1972)
Rautavaara, Einojuhani, Rautavaara, E. Concertos, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra cond. Max Pommer, CD, (Ondine, 2009)