Toivo Kuula composed "Tuutulaulu" (Lullaby) in memory of his infant daughter Aune, who was born in May 1905 and passed away in July of the same year.
Performer Biography
The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, featured on this album, is the oldest orchestra in Finland and one of the oldest in the world, with origins dating back to 1790.
Composition History
The obscurity of Toivo Kuula's cantatas is partly due to the poor state of their sheet music, which was unsuitable for performance for decades, with many errors and unclear manuscripts.
Composer Biography
Toivo Kuula composed six cantata-like works, including "Festive Cantata" and "Festive March," which have remained largely unknown to the general public.
Recording & Production
Due to the lack of decent performance materials, Toivo Kuula's cantatas were only recorded with modern digital technology in the new millennium, with some first recordings made for this album.
Composition History
Toivo Kuula's "Festive Cantata" was his first extensive work, commissioned by Pastor Gustav Durchman for the 600th anniversary of the Isokyrö parish church, despite Kuula not having produced any significant work before.
Compositional Technique
The "Festive Cantata" uses text from three different sources, including a 9th-century Gregorian tune, "Benedictus es Domine Deus," in its "chorus of the monks" section.
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Finnish Works for Accordion
Sibelius: Masonic Ritual Music
Raitio, V.: Queen of the Flowers - Works for Small Orchestra
Saariaho: Trios
Evocations
Jarnefelt: Symphonic Fantasy / Suite in E flat major / Serenade / Berceuse, "Lullaby"
