After Sibelius : studies in Finnish music / Tim Howell.

Contents The shadow of Sibelius. Symphony No. 6 ; Tapiola -- Aarre Merikanto - modernism, methods, and madness. Fantasia for Orchestra ; Pan ; Symphonic Study -- Erik Bergman - time to rebel. Colori ed improvvisazioni ; Birds in the Morning ; Sub luna -- Joonas Kokkonen - symphonist, serialist, and humanist. Music for String Orchestra ; Symphony No. 3 ; Symphony No. 4 -- Einojuhani Rautavaara - something old, something new. Regular Sets of Elements in a Semi-regular Situation ; Symphony No. 5 ; Piano Concerto No. 3 - 'Gift of dreams' -- Aulis Sallinen - a new simplicity. Variations for Orchestra ; Symphony No. 1 ; Symphony No. 5 - Washington Mosaics -- Paavo Heininen - challenging tradition. Adagio, concerto per orchestra in forma di variazioni ; Symphony No. 2 - 'Petite symphonie joyeuse' ; Lamentation and Praise - 'For those afore us' -- Kaija Saariaho - the French connection. Lichtbogen ; Aile du songe ; Orion -- Magnus Lindberg - rediscovering balance. Kinetics ; Aura - in memoriam Witold Lutoslawski ; Clarinet Concerto -- Out of the shadows.
Abstract The author provides an investigation into Finnish music and combines elements of composer biography and detailed analysis within the broader context of cultural and national identity. The book consists of a collection of eight individual composer studies that investigate the historical position and compositional characteristics of a representative selection of leading figures, ranging from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. These potentially self-contained studies subscribe to a larger picture, which explains the Sibelian legacy, the effect of this considerable influence on subsequent generations and its lasting consequences: an internationally acclaimed school of contemporary music.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 285-292) and index.
LCCN 2006016605
ISBN0754651770 (alk. paper)
ISBN9780754651772 (alk. paper)