Einojuhani Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus First Movement, Suo
Cantus Arcticus I: The Bog by Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara is one of those "If you love X, then you've got to try Y!," X being, in this case, Jean Sibelius, and Y obviously Rautavaara. He was born in 1928 and at 91 is still composing today. He is Finland's most popular composer after, of course, Sibelius.
Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus is subtitled Concerto for Birds and Orchestra, and as the name implies it prominently features recorded birdsongs along with the orchestra. But unlike all of those "Bach with Ocean Sounds" albums, this one really works. The birds in question were recorded near the Arctic Circle in Northern Finland and are not just randomly thrown in behind the music--the species are chosen to fit with the theme of each particular movement and their cries are matched well with the emotional ascetic of the moment. The really great disc with Max Pommer conducting Cantus Arcticus along with the 4th string quartet and 5th symphony unfortunately is not available anymore, but Pommer's Cantus Arcticus is still available, here.
