Composer of the Week - Einojuhani Rautavaara (b.1928) - The Creative Process

Donald Macleod concludes the survey of the life and works of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara with an exploration of some of his compositional techniques and the ideologies behind them. Borrowing a quote from Thomas Mann, Rautavaara sees compositions as having a 'sort of metaphysical mind of their own', with the composer's role being one of a mediator or perhaps a mid-wife. He says the music tells you where it wants to go and it is the composer's job to help the music live on its own terms. Partita Laura Mikkola (piano) Naxos, 8.554292, tracks 20-22 Vincent (end of Act 1) Matti Heinikari (tenor) Sini Rautavaara (soprano) Finnish National Opera Orchestra Fuat Manchurov (conductor) Ondine, ODE 750-2, track 7 Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (3rd mvt) Marielle Nordmann (harp) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Ondine, ODE 978-2, track 3 Sonata for Flutes and Guitar Gunilla von Bahr (flutes) Diego Blanco (guitar) BIS, BIS-CD-66, track 3 Manhattan Trilogy Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Ondine, ODE1090-5, tracks 4-7.