The Luosto Symphony requires two orchestras—a large symphony orchestra and a chamber orchestra—positioned at different levels and distances, along with six 'off-stage stations' of percussion and brass players, to create a surround sound experience.
Compositional Technique
The composer, Kalevi Aho, intentionally avoided fast passages requiring perfect synchronisation due to the time lag between distant musicians in outdoor performances, integrating the murmuring of wind into the acoustical background.
Composition History
The idea for an orchestral work to be performed on the Luosto slopes originated from a meeting between Martti Pura, mayor of Sodankylä, and Olli Alho, director of programmes for YLE 1 radio.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in the Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland, a venue known for its internationally renowned acoustics, and aims to reproduce the natural sound of a concert venue using 5.0 Surround sound.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Kalevi Aho's Symphony No. 12, also known as the Luosto Symphony, is a unique example of spatial music, originally composed for the natural outdoor acoustics of the Luosto mountain slopes in Finnish Lapland.
Instruments
The symphony requires special percussion instruments, including large Shaman drums (represented by bass drums in performances), Orthodox church bells, wind machines, spring drums, rainsticks, and an ocean drum.
Cultural Impact
The premiere of the Luosto Symphony in 2003 led to the creation of a new Finnish music festival, the annual LuostoClassic festival, which aims to perform the symphony every few years.
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Rautavaara, E: Symphonies Nos. 1-8
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