Einojuhani Rautavaara initially hesitated to arrange his mixed-choir work Suite de Lorca for children's choir due to the powerful and dark poetry of Federico García Lorca, but it became one of the Tapiola Choir's greatest hits.
Composer Biography
The mystery play Marjatta the Lowly Maiden was a turning point in Einojuhani Rautavaara's personal life, as the soloist for the role, Sini Koivisto, later became his second wife.
Compositional Technique
The Children's Mass is a 'missa brevis' with a cappella choir movements (Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei) each followed by a string meditation, concluding with an Alleluia for choir and strings.
Composer Biography
Einojuhani Rautavaara, the composer, had a crucial relationship with the Tapiola Choir, which inspired his works for children's choir.
Interpretation
Erkki Pohjola, the legendary founder and conductor of the Tapiola Choir, suggested that the Children's Mass is more effective if the choir and strings are placed on opposite sides of the performance venue due to its antiphonal nature.
Performer Biography
The Tapiola Choir, founded by Erkki Pohjola in 1963, consists of 70 young musicians aged 9 to 18, all of whom also play at least one musical instrument.
Composition History
The Children's Mass (1973) by Einojuhani Rautavaara was his winning entry in a choral composition competition organized by the City of Espoo, and he conceived it specifically for the Tapiola Choir.
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