Talviomenoita – Winter Apples - Finnish National Romantic
Choral Music
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Venematka (The boat journey), Op.18/3 (1893/1914) [1:$3]
Rakastava (The lover) (1894/98) [7:35]
Sortunut ääni (The broken voice), Op.18/1 (1898) [1:37]
Toivo KUULA (1883-1918)
Venelaulu (Barcarole), Op.21/2 (1912) [1:18]
Kevätlaulu (Spring song), Op.11/7 (1910) [2:22]
Siell’ on kauan jo kukkineet omenapuut (Over yonder the blossoming apple
tree stands), Op.11/1 (1908) [5:07]
Auringon noustessa (Sunrise), Op.11/3 (1910) [4:02]
Karavaanikuoro (Caravan Chorus), Op.21/1 (Op.34b/2) (1912) [5:13]
Nuku (Sleep) [2:41]
Sävel (The melody) [2:48]
Armas JÄRNEFELT (1869-1958)
Armahan Kulku (The path of the beloved) (1897) [1:16]
Armas MAASALO (1885-1960)
Tuutulaulu (Lullaby) [4:08]
Richard FALTIN (1835-1918)
Ruusu laaksossa (The rose in the valley) [2:19]
Leevi MADETOJA (1887-1947)
Läksin mina kesäyönä käymään (I went on a summer night), Op.57/1
(1924) [2:25]
Uni kysyy uunin päältä (Thus spake sleep), Op.57/3 (1927) [2:23]
Voi jos ilta joutuisi (O that evening would come), Op.57/2 (1925)
[2:20]
Selim PALMGREN (1878-1951)
Tuutulaulu (Lullaby) (1903/06) [2:42]
Kesäilta (Summer evening), Op.59b/1 (1917?) [2:05]
Keinu (The swing) (1908) [2:48]
Poppelit (Poplars) (1930) [3:34]
Yökehrääjä (Spinner in the night) (1908) [2:54]
Suru (Sorrow), Op.16b/1 (1905) [2:07]
Juhannus (Midsummer) (1927?) [2:58]
Kevätsävel (Spring melody) [1:18]
Kevättuuli (Spring wind) (1944) [1:06]
Kevätperhot (Spring butterflies) (1942) [1:19]
Huokaus (Sigh) (1907) [3:00]
Merellä (At sea) (1937?) [1:32]
Terttu Iso-Oja (soprano), Tuomas Katajala (tenor), Joose Vähäsöyrinki (bass)
Klemetti Institute Chamber Choir/Heikki Liimola
rec. 19-22 June 2010, Tampere Hall, Small Auditorium.
Finnish texts and English translations included
ALBA ABCD329 [79:17]
This is an excellent anthology of Finnish choral music written at the peak
of the nationalistic Romantic Movement in the late 19th – early
20th century. Art played an important role in the forming of the
Finnish national idea, and choral singing was one of the most influential
forces in this process. It was like a bridge thrown between the present, with
the active development of the Finnish language and national art, – and the
past, where the roots of it all grew in the great epos that is the Kalevala.
This was not the art of aristocrats that only dwelt in elite salons: this
was the voice of the nation, the people itself. Italian is always claimed
to be the singing language par excellence; but the vowel-rich Finnish
shares many of the same qualities, and is also very fit to be sung.
Be prepared for a rather uniform 80 minutes. The numbers are not very diverse,
but they are beautiful and hold together well. Some music is quite conventionally
Romantic; many numbers are deliberately folk-like, in the spirit of the moment,
with the characteristic 5/4 rhythm of Kalevala. There are some moments
of exquisite beauty.
The most memorable works are by Sibelius and Madetoja. Venematka
is vigorous and merry. Rakastava is a large multi-layered canvas.
It starts as a narration, with a slight inflection of sadness. The middle
part is unique in its sonic solution: rippling, ever-moving, lighted and warm.
The last section incorporates soloists; its mood is balanced and happy. Broken
Voice has Sibelian signature tension and sadness; it is simple and personal.
The three songs by Madetoja are beautiful, each in its diverse way. I
Went on a Summer Night is sad and resembles the Libera me from
Fauré’s Requiem. The tenor of Tuomas Katajala is noble, restrained
yet expressive. Thus Spoke Sleep, with a soprano solo, is like a
tender lullaby, but with tension. The third song, again with tenor, is vibrant
and moving. The combination of the sharp emotional tenor – almost a baritone
– at the lower end and the waving veils of the women’s voices on the top creates
a strange inversion and a beautiful, poignant feeling.
Kuula’s short sketches are not all memorable. His music is rather unvaried,
but his choral writing is masterful. For example, he uses fugal technique
in the Apple Tree song – and the music, while still rooted in the
national Finnish tradition, attains a Bachian grandeur. The Caravan Chorus
contains some mesmerizing superimposition of voice layers. The Melody
rises to an impressive choral culmination.
The works by Palmgren did not impress me; neither their melodies nor their
effects. They are however well wrought, well laid out for the chorus, and
superbly sung. I can’t say that they are boring, but they are very uniform.
I liked his Lullaby: aureate, softly rocking, calm and kind-hearted.
If we consider the chorus to be a musical instrument, then this one is very
well-tuned. Its sound is warm, granulated and velvety. The diction is excellent,
without the lisping “s”. The chorus sings carefully and accurately. The sopranos
are gentle; the foundation is to be found in the sturdy, solid Baltic basses;
the internal voices are assured and reliable. The chorus can project power,
as in Palmgren’s Poplars, or in Kuula’s hymn-like Sunrise
– but can also be very delicate. The three soloists have strong, attractive
voices, which seem to grow out of the chorus – probably the recording engineer’s
decision, but it was an excellent one.
The booklet is exemplary. In Finnish and English, it tells us about the historical
and cultural background of the time in which the songs were composed, about
the history of choral singing in Finland, about the creators of the texts
and the composers, and about each song. The lyrics are given with good English
translations. The entire release has an air of quality.
Oleg Ledeniov
An excellent anthology.